Danger (not side effect) of taking finasteride?

[dehoha]

Why would doctors prescribe finasteride in the first place?

I am sure a lot of us know that finasteride can damage liver in the long run.
Before I was prescribed finasteride (which I have quitted), my dermatologist took some blood test to make sure that my liver is healthy to handle finasteride.
Also, dermatologist wanted me to come back every four months to have my liver checked up. This potential danger led me to a new question.
If doctors know that finasteride can damage liver in the long run and take the patient off finasteride, why would they prescribe in the first place?
Since effect of finasteride would vanish after withdrawl and the patient would lose everything that was gained from finasteride, wouldn't it be even worse in the long run?
Pure hair loss vs hair loss+damaged liver? I don't see why doctors would recommend finasteride when it might cause liability disaster.

 

[Secretlybatman]

Since when can a dermatologist test your liver.. Somethings fishy here.

 

[Notcoolanymore]

Point me in the direction of the study that links finasteride use to liver failure. Either way, you can get a blood test every year to check liver function. This should not be a reason to avoid finasteride. We are reaching on this one.