29. Why was the HBV Treatment Algorithm written?

We looked at the guidelines that were published at the time and we wanted to get a clear algorithm for physicians that would try to increase awareness and also increase the aggressiveness of treatment. We sort of have a bias that there has been a certain amount of nonchalance in the Asian community. For example, people say, “well, my mom has it, my sister has it, I feel well, why should I see a doctor and consider therapy?” But also there’s been a certain nonchalance among the physician community. We’ve been more gung-ho to treat hepatitis C, but I think to a certain extent we’ve neglected being appropriately aggressive in treating hepatitis B.