The doctor should not prescribe GH to Sharon. GH should only be administered to those who have growth problems, and it is in the doctor’s best interest to do what is best for his patient. NHS advises that only the shortest 3% of the population is administered GH, and in Sharon’s case, her stature would be in the top 10%, meaning she does not have any growth problems. Even if she were in the shortest 3%, the doctor would still only give her the smallest dose possible that would produce reasonable results because of the potential side effects. Somatropin, a drug that contains GH and is administered to those with growth problems, has side effects such as headaches and joint problems, which 1 out of 10 patients experience. These effects could negatively affect how she plays, therefore, the GH could hinder her career as opposed to help her.
