I also see a problem with excessive litigation, but I wouldn't support an initative to end medical malpractice because it would hurt those who really need to be financially compensated for mistakes.
What do I know about the medical industry?
That most of what doctors do does not ?cure? anything.
They have 0 training in nutrition and make little connection between diet and health.
The medical industry and pharmaceutical industry work hand in hand. A system designed for crisis management, not health.
In fact their ?treatments? often create further problems that require ?treatment?.
Antibiotics are overused, often as preventatives, and result in the need for further treatment.
Birth is medicalized and too often results in surgery, which subjects mom and infant to potential problems and costs 2 to 3 times more than a normal birth.
Here?s one example that happened recently in my family.
Mom was seeing a heart specialist. Did a stress test, all was good. Well, if all was good, why did he have her checking her blood pressure everyday and have her scheduled for another stress test in 6 months. I chalked it up to milking the insurance company, based on some idea that people at her age needed close observation.
Six months later, she suddenly has a blockage in a lower chamber of her heart. He urgently recommended that she schedule an angiogram to determine the extent of blockage. And told her to expect that an angioplasty (stints) may be necessary when they got in there.
I told her we were getting a second opinion. I was very angry that he hadn?t mentioned it on the first test. We could have been working on it for the previous 6 months. I did some research and discovered that cardiovascular disease can be reversed with diet and supplements. I put together a program for her based on Dr. Castelli?s information- heads the decades-long Framington study. I met with her DO who concured with me- that the heart doctor was over reacting. He approved the plan and added one more supplement that I didn?t have on the list. Three months later, after following the regime, the DO took a blood test and said, ?I?ve only seen one perfect blood test, and yours is the second best.?
Now, I don?t know how much you know about angioplasty, but the risk of dying during the procedure is good. One of my clients said he knew two people who?d died on the table while receiving this intervention. Stints are not a permanent solution, but must be replaced every 6-7 years. They do nothing to prevent plaque from forming again. They often fail/collapse and require surgery to repair. They also cost about $50,000. The program she?s on costs a very small fraction of that. And, if she had needed chelation- like dialysis to clean the arteries- that procedure is also a fraction of the cost at about $4,000.
I?m a bit concerned what her next test might reveal, as she?s been cheating of late. And, in the end she may choose to eat what she wants and have the invasive surgery. It?s her choice, but at least she will have made an informed choice. Something that most Americans know nothing about because their doctor is not going to advise them of their options.
We can speculate on why doctors aren?t trained in prevention of disease rather than crisis management; but one thing is obviously clear- health is not profitable. The machine needs sick people to fuel it. Once read that the economy was so dependent on cancer treatment that a ?cure? for cancer would crash the economy.
Which would you prefer? Risk of death and certainty of future surgery, or to reverse your heart disease with a change of diet, supplements, and exercise?
I think Western Medicine is at its best in trauma. When it comes to health- the prevention of illness- they know nada.
Dr Andrew Weil is leading the way with 'Complementary' medicine- bringing together the best of traditional combined with alternatives.
http://www.drweil.com/u/Home/