Stefan's article about LiberatingMinds and me

NadineLeBean

I don't know the difference

Danny Shahar · Number of posts: 948 Registration date: 2007-12-30

Well one can say that a person practices medicine when she explores the sources of illnesses and offers cures, remedies, or advice. Or you can more narrowly think of medicine in terms of certain substances that people take in order to address certain ailments.

NadineLeBean

It's all corrupt to me.

ExyPhylo · Number of posts: 1180 Registration date: 2007-12-12

what ever

NadineLeBean

i don't care Wink

ExyPhylo · Number of posts: 1180 Registration date: 2007-12-12

Ok... back to medicine. I tend to agree in general where it appears NadineLAbeing is not drawing a line between the drug and the practice. Each time I go to the doctor I am offered something to ease the symptoms. I am rarely educated in the cause or prevention in full.

Cholesterol is up - remedy Statin's
( not do x y and c and we will see if it improves over time- I (thanks to the interwebz) did my own research and helped to lower my own cholesterol.

My biggest beef is with the prescribing of antibiotics..just in case.

Deep Purple · Number of posts: 127 Registration date: 2008-05-10

ExyPhylo wrote:

My biggest beef is with the prescribing of antibiotics..just in case.

Seriously. It's partially because something like 40% of doctors don't acknowledge evolution (source). They don't understand that if you overprescribe antibiotics, it leads to the development of drug-resistant diseases. So they cave into the patients who say "well you have to do something!" If they understood how much damage it was doing (not to mention the costs of purchasing the drugs), they might be less likely to do so. I bet there are two things pushing the trend you're describing, Exy: overscheduled doctors who don't want to take the time to educate their patients on complex (hell, even not complex) subjects; and patients who demand drug treatments even when they are useless or less effective than lifestyle change or watchful waiting, which makes doctors less likely to bring them up to other patients.

With the Internet, I feel like I'm able to make my own diagnoses, and I just have to go to the doctor for a second opinion. I've had a few illnesses over the past few years, and every time I've been right. I'll be wrong eventually, though; I'm a young guy, so my diseases are pretty simple -- bad gall bladder, a few colds, mono, flu, fungal infection, that sort of thing. When I start getting older and more susceptible to cancer and whatnot, I greatly suspect my ability to self-diagnose and self-treat will fall.

ExyPhylo · Number of posts: 1180 Registration date: 2007-12-12

There are the spiffs doctors receive from the drug cartel. My doctor is often meeting a rep from a drug company prior or post appointment. There seems to be a conflict of interest in this regard. If you benefit from the prescribing of certain drugs, how can you be motivated to teach people to take their health into their own hands. Whether a doctor spends 15 minutes or 60 with you, the co-pay and rate of billing are the same. So why not spend 10 and be rewarded for 60....plus a long weekend in Vegas. Diagnosing a condition or probable out come is very profitable
It's corrupt as labeannadine says... and while I am sure there are good doctors ( I met a great one in emergency)... I really lose a great deal of respect when I have to ask for alternatives to the drugs.

I agree on the antibiotics...and resistance over time. I have a few friends that can no longer take the basics and have to move to the latest every time they get an infection and even then it's months and several rounds for it to clear up.

Paul · Number of posts: 208 Age: 19 Location: Washington Registration date: 2009-02-07

My my my. I just read a bit of the current conversation now, but I must say you guys take your medical treatment for granted. I would might be dead 2 times over were it not for medical technology, including antibiotics. Wait until you have something like appendicitis and then take care of it yourself. Tell me how that goes.

Modern medicine isn't perfect, but the human body isn't simple. So many people have their lives today because of the treatments and cures you guys are deriding.

ExyPhylo · Number of posts: 1180 Registration date: 2007-12-12

That's very true. However I think you skewed the read. I was not talking about appendicitis, or legs swollen twice their size due to infection. Rather I was talking about a slight throat irritation and the prescribing of antibiotics ...just...in case. It is a well known problem in medicine. Often rest, quality nourishment and fluids are enough for your body to take care of itself.

I had a few ailments I did not take antibiotics for, regardless of the prescription given. I went to be assessed to be sure it was not something other than what I thought it might be. I did take them recently for a situation I thought similar to yours and they worked swiftly on what I would later learn was ~~gas~~ Ldr. Wink

Deep Purple · Number of posts: 127 Registration date: 2008-05-10

Paul wrote:

My my my. I just read a bit of the current conversation now, but I must say you guys take your medical treatment for granted. I would might be dead 2 times over were it not for medical technology, including antibiotics. Wait until you have something like appendicitis and then take care of it yourself. Tell me how that goes.

Modern medicine isn't perfect, but the human body isn't simple. So many people have their lives today because of the treatments and cures you guys are deriding.

Yeah, I know, I didn't remove my own gall bladder Wink

But I saved myself a lot of time in hospital by telling the doctor that the problem was probably my gall bladder, and he should check it right away. I don't believe that the paternal doctor model works for me, because I'm smart and engaged in my own care. It works better for other people who don't have the resources (Internet or intellect) to do what I can. I know Exy and I haven't denigrated the efficacy of antibiotics, we've mourned their intelligent use. The influence of drug companies on medical practice has been studied in prestigious medical journals. Even if doctors don't mean to, they are affected by the freebies they get from drug companies, these studies show. I think we have valid critiques, not deserving an insulting "My my my." It's possible to level criticism to improve something, rather than destroy it, which is, I think, what Exy and I were doing.

ExyPhylo · Number of posts: 1180 Registration date: 2007-12-12

Damn...what Deep Purple said so eloquently!

Paul · Number of posts: 208 Age: 19 Location: Washington Registration date: 2009-02-07

Deep Purple wrote:

Paul wrote:

My my my. I just read a bit of the current conversation now, but I must say you guys take your medical treatment for granted. I would might be dead 2 times over were it not for medical technology, including antibiotics. Wait until you have something like appendicitis and then take care of it yourself. Tell me how that goes.

Modern medicine isn't perfect, but the human body isn't simple. So many people have their lives today because of the treatments and cures you guys are deriding.

Yeah, I know, I didn't remove my own gall bladder Wink

But I saved myself a lot of time in hospital by telling the doctor that the problem was probably my gall bladder, and he should check it right away. I don't believe that the paternal doctor model works for me, because I'm smart and engaged in my own care. It works better for other people who don't have the resources (Internet or intellect) to do what I can. I know Exy and I haven't denigrated the efficacy of antibiotics, we've mourned their intelligent use. The influence of drug companies on medical practice has been studied in prestigious medical journals. Even if doctors don't mean to, they are affected by the freebies they get from drug companies, these studies show. I think we have valid critiques, not deserving an insulting "My my my." It's possible to level criticism to improve something, rather than destroy it, which is, I think, what Exy and I were doing.

Ah OK, I think I understand you guys now. I don't think I got enough of the context when I first posted.

Both of my parents work in the medical field. They do get cool goodies. They gave me a Viagra clock they got Smile

It's a great conversation starter.

ExyPhylo · Number of posts: 1180 Registration date: 2007-12-12

Hmm..weird

You would think it symbolically appropriate to have the triangle pointing up....and above the clock... Smile

Paul · Number of posts: 208 Age: 19 Location: Washington Registration date: 2009-02-07

ExyPhylo wrote:

Hmm..weird

You would think it symbolically appropriate to have the triangle pointing up....and above the clock... Smile

That would lead your gaze away from the clock, and the product they are trying to advertise. The way it is now, the lines angle downwards to the logo and the large fake pill at the bottom. It brings attention to the product. At least, that is what I believe.