Doctors who believe in God tend not to play God. According to a new British study published in the Journal of Medical Ethics doctors who are atheists or agnostics are almost twice as likely to make decisions that they think will quickly end the lives of terminally ill patients. Doctors with religious beliefs were twice as likely to talk with patients about life-ending decisions.
The study surveyed 8,500 British doctors, 42% of which responded. It was interesting to note that white doctors, the largest ethnic group to complete the survey, were less like than any other group to label themselves as deeply religious.
The British Medical Association said that regardless of religious beliefs the patient's needs should always come first.
Showing posts with label doctors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label doctors. Show all posts
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Doctors and Dollars
Once again we discover that money does, in fact, influence doctors even though they protest that they're super humans and above such mortal behavior. A study due out this month finds that among 20 authors of the guidelines to treat depression, dipolar disorder and schizophrenia, 18 had at least one financial tie to a drug maker. Twelve of the 20 had ties to drug makers in at least THREE categories such as consulting, research grants, speaking fees or even stock ownership.
Kind of makes it hard to believe their "expert" opinions aren't just a little bit biased, doesn't it?
Kind of makes it hard to believe their "expert" opinions aren't just a little bit biased, doesn't it?
Friday, January 30, 2009
Cold Medicine
I continue to be surprised (even though I shouldn't be) at how cold and indifferent mainstream medicine can be. You would think that at some point when someone is brought into the emergency room by ambulance with a head injury they would ask the patient how they feel. No, the questions were all strictly medical. For 3 hours no one, not doctor, nurse, PA, no one asked the patient how they felt or if there was anything they could do to make them more comfortable.
The patient had to ask for nausea medication before being discharged because sitting up from examination table to wheelchair was going to be extremely difficult. For the entire ordeal the hospital never offered so much as an ice pack or an aspirin.
Medical personnel are trained to not get involved with patients to protect themselves, but at what point do they pass basic human compassion? Treating patients as if they were an animal, a slab of meat without any feelings, may protect the staff but it has a direct and harmful impact on the patient.
It's been said many times that one of the major reasons so many Americans are turning to complementary and alternative medicine is the caring attention they receive from practitioners. Based on personal experience, I'd certainly have to agree.
The patient had to ask for nausea medication before being discharged because sitting up from examination table to wheelchair was going to be extremely difficult. For the entire ordeal the hospital never offered so much as an ice pack or an aspirin.
Medical personnel are trained to not get involved with patients to protect themselves, but at what point do they pass basic human compassion? Treating patients as if they were an animal, a slab of meat without any feelings, may protect the staff but it has a direct and harmful impact on the patient.
It's been said many times that one of the major reasons so many Americans are turning to complementary and alternative medicine is the caring attention they receive from practitioners. Based on personal experience, I'd certainly have to agree.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Broken Medical Model
Interesting article in today's Wall Street Journal called Submitting To The Science Of Prevention. It's about a paradigm shift in mainstream medicine that's long overdue. It seems they're beginning to realize their focus on treating disease and illness is not the most effective system after all. Now they are slowly beginning to endorse the concept of prevention and maintenance of good health as the priority.
Of course all of this comes with the heavy financial baggage necessary to keep modern medicine happy, this time in the form of preventative tests. After all, no matter how valid the model we can't have Medicine losing any money now, can we?
Did you know years ago in China you used to pay your doctor every month to keep you healthy and stopped paying him when you got sick? Compare that to our system in American where we pay our doctor when we get sick and stop paying him when we're healthy. Which system do you think is most effective at keeping you healthy?
But at least it's a start and a recognition that complementary and alternative medicine has had this right from the beginning. It's one of the ways that it's lasted for hundreds and thousands of years.
Of course all of this comes with the heavy financial baggage necessary to keep modern medicine happy, this time in the form of preventative tests. After all, no matter how valid the model we can't have Medicine losing any money now, can we?
Did you know years ago in China you used to pay your doctor every month to keep you healthy and stopped paying him when you got sick? Compare that to our system in American where we pay our doctor when we get sick and stop paying him when we're healthy. Which system do you think is most effective at keeping you healthy?
But at least it's a start and a recognition that complementary and alternative medicine has had this right from the beginning. It's one of the ways that it's lasted for hundreds and thousands of years.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Common Traits of Healers
There was a recent article in Annals of Internal Medicine based on interviews with 50 practitioners from allopathic and complementary & alternative medicine which found their common skills as "healers" to be: Do the little things; Take time; Be open and listen; Find something to like, to love; Remove barriers; Let the patient explain; Share authority and
Be committed.
Now you know what to look for in your health practitioners.
Be committed.
Now you know what to look for in your health practitioners.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Follow the Money in Medicine
Congress and the Justice Department are looking into the payments made by medical device companies to doctors who consult for them. A bill is pending that would require companies to disclose payments by both drug and device companies.
In Texas, meanwhile, two renowned psychiatrists liked to the University of Texas system are being investigated for their connections to drug companies by U.S. Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA). The University of Texas is also investigating possible failures to report income and other financial allegations. The doctors are recognized for their contributions to child pharmacology.
Eli Lilly plans to begin reporting payments they make to doctors for advice and speeches, even making the information available to the public through an Internet database. It was also the first company to publicly report its educational grants for medical conferences noting that letting the public see what's going on is a necessary step towards restoring trust.
In Texas, meanwhile, two renowned psychiatrists liked to the University of Texas system are being investigated for their connections to drug companies by U.S. Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA). The University of Texas is also investigating possible failures to report income and other financial allegations. The doctors are recognized for their contributions to child pharmacology.
Eli Lilly plans to begin reporting payments they make to doctors for advice and speeches, even making the information available to the public through an Internet database. It was also the first company to publicly report its educational grants for medical conferences noting that letting the public see what's going on is a necessary step towards restoring trust.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Faith in Healing
In this week's Archives of Surgery there is an interesting study on Prayer Therapy. In a random survey 57% of adults felt that God's intervention could save a family member even if doctors had said that treatment would be futile. Even 20% of doctors shared the belief, apparently understanding their limitations.
The bigger question is, how can we not imagine miraculous cures? In this era of epigenetics and discoveries about the unlimited abilities of our bodies to heal how can we not have faith in the unseen and unknown? Is this any bigger leap of faith than those 150 years ago who believed that antibiotics might cure a disease caused by evil spirits?
What's sad is that only 20% of doctors understand their are higher powers than theirs.
The bigger question is, how can we not imagine miraculous cures? In this era of epigenetics and discoveries about the unlimited abilities of our bodies to heal how can we not have faith in the unseen and unknown? Is this any bigger leap of faith than those 150 years ago who believed that antibiotics might cure a disease caused by evil spirits?
What's sad is that only 20% of doctors understand their are higher powers than theirs.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
More Doctor Visits
The CDC reports that the number of medical visits increased 26% between 1996 and 2006a number that is significantly higher than the 11% population growth during that period. Older folks are the main reason and that's because they're making more visits than they did 10 years ago.
What's sad is that the majority of visits were for chronic conditions ... you know, those health problems that complementary and alternative therapies do so well with and mainstream medicine does so poorly. Go to a doctor for a chronic condition and all you're going to get are more pills.
Our current sick-care system shows what it's all about.
What's sad is that the majority of visits were for chronic conditions ... you know, those health problems that complementary and alternative therapies do so well with and mainstream medicine does so poorly. Go to a doctor for a chronic condition and all you're going to get are more pills.
Our current sick-care system shows what it's all about.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Dirty Little Secret
Does it surprise you to learn how many doctors are hiding income, often a lot of income, the receive from drug companies? In the news recently is the story about a world-renowned Harvard child psychiatrist whose work has helped fuel the explosion of use in antipsychotic medications for children who neglected to report he received at least $1.6 million from drug makers from 2000 - 2007.
Yes, this is a violation of federal and university rules designed to police conflicts of interest, but it turns out several doctors there aren't paying attention. The case has been referred to the university's conflict committee for review and NIH is looking into the case...now that it's been exposed for them.
The situation came to light through the efforts of Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. He noted the amended disclosures may actually understate the researcher's outside income because the amounts contradict payment information from the drug manufacturers.
Most of us aren't surprised in the least by such news reports. We know the doctors and researchers are in bed with the drug makers. We're surprised when they get caught with their hand in the cookie jar is all, and are deeply grateful to Sen. Grassley and others for shining light on these dirty little secrets.
Yes, this is a violation of federal and university rules designed to police conflicts of interest, but it turns out several doctors there aren't paying attention. The case has been referred to the university's conflict committee for review and NIH is looking into the case...now that it's been exposed for them.
The situation came to light through the efforts of Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. He noted the amended disclosures may actually understate the researcher's outside income because the amounts contradict payment information from the drug manufacturers.
Most of us aren't surprised in the least by such news reports. We know the doctors and researchers are in bed with the drug makers. We're surprised when they get caught with their hand in the cookie jar is all, and are deeply grateful to Sen. Grassley and others for shining light on these dirty little secrets.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
More Mind-Body Connection
The facts continue to pile up about the Mind-Body connection but doctors continue to ignore it or dismiss it as so much "woo-woo" New Age mumbo-jumbo. The latest evidence comes from research with 1,032 adults with whiplash injuries in Sweden.
"There is a dose-response relation between recovery expectations and the degree of subsequent disability," accord to Dr. Lena Holm of the Institute of Environmental Medicine in Stockholm. Surveys were taken about 23 days after their accident and again six months later.
As expected those with less initial disability had higher expectations for recovery. But more thorough review produced an interesting discovery. Compared with individuals reporting the highest expectations of recovery, those with the lowest expectations were FOUR TIMES more likely to have higher disability and TWO TIMES more likely to have moderate disability six months later.
In other words, early identification of people with low expectations for recovery from whiplash injuries may be a better indicator of future disability. No mention of whether Sweden will begin using some type of complementary or alternative therapy to improve expectations.
"There is a dose-response relation between recovery expectations and the degree of subsequent disability," accord to Dr. Lena Holm of the Institute of Environmental Medicine in Stockholm. Surveys were taken about 23 days after their accident and again six months later.
As expected those with less initial disability had higher expectations for recovery. But more thorough review produced an interesting discovery. Compared with individuals reporting the highest expectations of recovery, those with the lowest expectations were FOUR TIMES more likely to have higher disability and TWO TIMES more likely to have moderate disability six months later.
In other words, early identification of people with low expectations for recovery from whiplash injuries may be a better indicator of future disability. No mention of whether Sweden will begin using some type of complementary or alternative therapy to improve expectations.
Monday, April 14, 2008
CAM Growing in Popularity
People want complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) even when they're using mainstream medicine. The American Hospital Association does a survey every two years on CAM use in hospitals and the latest shows the percentage of hospitals offering one or more CAM services increased from 8% in 1998 to 27% in 2005.
You probably expect them all to be in California but most were in the Midwest and they were actually less common on the West Coast. The least common areas to offer CAM services were in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The top CAM services offered on an outpatient basis among hospitals were massage therapy (71%); tai chi, yoga, or chi gong (47%); relaxation training (43%), acupuncture (39%); guided imagery (32%), and therapeutic touch (30%). The top inpatient services were massage therapy (37%), music/art therapy (26%), therapeutic touch (25%), guided imagery (22%), relaxation training (20%), and acupuncture (11%).
There are literally hundreds of other therapies available (as shown in UnBreak Your Health) but at least we're making a start. Hospitals and doctors are beginning to realize there are thousands of years of healing experience available in therapies outside of prescription drugs. People are finding the courage to ask for what they want.
You probably expect them all to be in California but most were in the Midwest and they were actually less common on the West Coast. The least common areas to offer CAM services were in Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The top CAM services offered on an outpatient basis among hospitals were massage therapy (71%); tai chi, yoga, or chi gong (47%); relaxation training (43%), acupuncture (39%); guided imagery (32%), and therapeutic touch (30%). The top inpatient services were massage therapy (37%), music/art therapy (26%), therapeutic touch (25%), guided imagery (22%), relaxation training (20%), and acupuncture (11%).
There are literally hundreds of other therapies available (as shown in UnBreak Your Health) but at least we're making a start. Hospitals and doctors are beginning to realize there are thousands of years of healing experience available in therapies outside of prescription drugs. People are finding the courage to ask for what they want.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Money and Longevity
We assume that if you spend more on health care then you'll live longer and better, and as usual that may be wrong. New research from Dartmouth College illustrates the discrepencies in our nation's health care system.
While Medicare spending for chronically ill patients in the last two years of life at UCLA cost $93,842 it cost $53,432 at the Mayo Clinic's main teaching hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. Many people have pointed to the variations of medical policy and procedures as one of the main factors for cost and waste in our system. The care you get, and what it costs, depends on where you live. While chronically ill patients spent only 10.6 days in the hospital in Bend, Oregon they spent nearly 35 days in the hospital in Manhattan.
This is important because Medicare spends $1 for chronic illnesses out of every $3 spent. The next time someone tries to tell you that Western medicine has all of the answers, remind them they don't even know how much variation there is in system.
While Medicare spending for chronically ill patients in the last two years of life at UCLA cost $93,842 it cost $53,432 at the Mayo Clinic's main teaching hospital in Rochester, Minnesota. Many people have pointed to the variations of medical policy and procedures as one of the main factors for cost and waste in our system. The care you get, and what it costs, depends on where you live. While chronically ill patients spent only 10.6 days in the hospital in Bend, Oregon they spent nearly 35 days in the hospital in Manhattan.
This is important because Medicare spends $1 for chronic illnesses out of every $3 spent. The next time someone tries to tell you that Western medicine has all of the answers, remind them they don't even know how much variation there is in system.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
A Little Sunshine
The dark and mysterious world of mainstream medicine is getting a little more sunshine thanks to a new government website. Now Medicare and Medicaid customer satisfaction and performance information is available at www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov so you can learn about the hospitals in your area and make an informed choice.
The data is the result of a 27-question survey that more than 2,500 hospitals around the country gave to patients between Oct. 2006 and June 2007. Hospitals were required to survey at least 300 patients but many questioned many more.
It's a small step towards consumer education, but a good one!
The data is the result of a 27-question survey that more than 2,500 hospitals around the country gave to patients between Oct. 2006 and June 2007. Hospitals were required to survey at least 300 patients but many questioned many more.
It's a small step towards consumer education, but a good one!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
More Drug Games
So do you believe Schering-Plough and Merck when they say they simply wanted to refine the study data on Vytorin for more clarity ... or do you think they were simply stalling to protect the $5 billion in sales in 2007 of Vytorin and Zetia?
How stupid do the drug companies think we, and our doctors, really are? First they want to change the primary way the data would be analyzed after it's collected, then they wanted to change the endpoint of the study which is like moving the goal line during the game. Could it be they're just in it for the money after all and not really interested in protecting our health?
Now that doctors are learning there wasn't any significant difference in the clogging of neck arteries even they're beginning to question the benefit of cholesterol-lowering drugs like Vytorin and Zetia. For the billions of dollars there simply aren't any benefits to patients.
Is it any surprise that Congress has started hearings about how drug companies play games with their research? Or that investigations have started into insider trading? Even the medical journals are finally beginning to question the "selective publication" of positive trials quickly while delaying (or hiding) any negative data.
In a for-profit, drug-dominated medical system it's clear what the priority is ... and it isn't our health.
How stupid do the drug companies think we, and our doctors, really are? First they want to change the primary way the data would be analyzed after it's collected, then they wanted to change the endpoint of the study which is like moving the goal line during the game. Could it be they're just in it for the money after all and not really interested in protecting our health?
Now that doctors are learning there wasn't any significant difference in the clogging of neck arteries even they're beginning to question the benefit of cholesterol-lowering drugs like Vytorin and Zetia. For the billions of dollars there simply aren't any benefits to patients.
Is it any surprise that Congress has started hearings about how drug companies play games with their research? Or that investigations have started into insider trading? Even the medical journals are finally beginning to question the "selective publication" of positive trials quickly while delaying (or hiding) any negative data.
In a for-profit, drug-dominated medical system it's clear what the priority is ... and it isn't our health.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Medical Risks
How often have we heard 20-20 medical hindsight after deaths raise an issue to a headline story? The latest example of "those risks were completely unanticipated" comes from the first follow-up study of hormone use after menopause. While heart problems linked to the pills appear to fade after stopping the medication new cancer risks appear.
You may remember this study was halted six years ago due to heart risks and breast cancer. Now we find out years later that lung tumors and other cancers become a problem. Those who'd taken hormones but stopped were 24% more likely to develop any kind of cancer.
As usual doctors are trying to play down the problem saying it only affects 3 women out of 1,000 on the hormone pills. Try telling the 3 women with cancer that it isn't a big deal. Better yet, try BEING one of the 3 women with cancer and see how you feel.
You may remember this study was halted six years ago due to heart risks and breast cancer. Now we find out years later that lung tumors and other cancers become a problem. Those who'd taken hormones but stopped were 24% more likely to develop any kind of cancer.
As usual doctors are trying to play down the problem saying it only affects 3 women out of 1,000 on the hormone pills. Try telling the 3 women with cancer that it isn't a big deal. Better yet, try BEING one of the 3 women with cancer and see how you feel.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Impersonal Medicine
Can mainstream medicine get any more impersonal than it is today with 8-minute appointments? The answer is: Yes! Now doctors don't have to even come in contact with you to diagnose your ills and prescribe a drug. Soon you'll have a virtual visit with the doctor via the Internet. Aetna and Cigna have both agreed to reimburse doctors for online visits.
Considered best for follow-up consultations or for minor ailments like a cold the visits can be simply e-mail answers to your questions or actual virtual visits. Some doctors are experimenting with webcambs to add a more "personal" touch.
Considered best for follow-up consultations or for minor ailments like a cold the visits can be simply e-mail answers to your questions or actual virtual visits. Some doctors are experimenting with webcambs to add a more "personal" touch.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Another Day, Another Drug Problem
How can I not say something about the latest problem drugs? This time it's Vytorin and Zetia, the ones you see on TV every night. Research shows that they're no more effective at slowing heart disease than older, cheaper drugs. Generics cost about $1 per pill while these two superstar drugs cost about $3 per dose.
The fact that the study was released nearly two years ago is another issue. Why and how did the FDA approve these drugs in the first place? Zetia was approved in 2002 and Vytorin in 2004. In 2006 doctors wrote about 18 million prescriptions for Vytorin and about 14 million for Zetia.
As usual, all we have to do is follow the money to learn how modern medicine works in America today.
And this is the industry that questions the safety and effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine? Therapies that have been used successfully for decades if not hundreds or thousands of years? If there was more money to be made with CAM than drugs then that's what you'd see on TV every night.
The fact that the study was released nearly two years ago is another issue. Why and how did the FDA approve these drugs in the first place? Zetia was approved in 2002 and Vytorin in 2004. In 2006 doctors wrote about 18 million prescriptions for Vytorin and about 14 million for Zetia.
As usual, all we have to do is follow the money to learn how modern medicine works in America today.
And this is the industry that questions the safety and effectiveness of complementary and alternative medicine? Therapies that have been used successfully for decades if not hundreds or thousands of years? If there was more money to be made with CAM than drugs then that's what you'd see on TV every night.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Never Challenge The Power of Doctors
It seems that doctors can never get enough money, enough power or enough control. In Texas the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons has filed suit in federal court to stop the Texas Medical Board from even accepting anonymous complaints.
It seems the 4% of complaints that are filed against doctors are anonymous and that's simply too much for doctors to put up with since they know everything about everything and no one should ever question their decisions. The fact that the average person is intimidated by the money and power doctors have in their communities doesn't justify the ability to file an anonymous complaint from the doctor's perspective. They want to know who to retaliate against!
I'm reading "OVERTREATED - Why Too Much Medicine Is Making Us Sicker and Poorer" (a Christmas gift) and it's incredible how doctors refuse to admit mistakes no matter how horrific the circumstances. No matter how blatant their errors, no matter how callous they are in taking advantage of patients, they still think they deserve the right to continue at any cost.
I can only hope the courts are beyond the usual political influence of the medical associations and throws the case out of court to protect OUR rights and OUR lives.
If you've ever wondered why most practitioners of complementary and alternative therapies try to keep under the radar, this is the reason. No one wants to become a target of the medical associations, their lawyers and lobbyists. Remember it was only 20 years ago that the federal courts had to protect chiropractors from the American Medical Association.
It seems the 4% of complaints that are filed against doctors are anonymous and that's simply too much for doctors to put up with since they know everything about everything and no one should ever question their decisions. The fact that the average person is intimidated by the money and power doctors have in their communities doesn't justify the ability to file an anonymous complaint from the doctor's perspective. They want to know who to retaliate against!
I'm reading "OVERTREATED - Why Too Much Medicine Is Making Us Sicker and Poorer" (a Christmas gift) and it's incredible how doctors refuse to admit mistakes no matter how horrific the circumstances. No matter how blatant their errors, no matter how callous they are in taking advantage of patients, they still think they deserve the right to continue at any cost.
I can only hope the courts are beyond the usual political influence of the medical associations and throws the case out of court to protect OUR rights and OUR lives.
If you've ever wondered why most practitioners of complementary and alternative therapies try to keep under the radar, this is the reason. No one wants to become a target of the medical associations, their lawyers and lobbyists. Remember it was only 20 years ago that the federal courts had to protect chiropractors from the American Medical Association.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
California Protecting Patients
California has abolished its 27-year-old program to protect the identities of alcoholic or drug-impaired doctors. Since 1980 a doctor in a treatment program can continue to work and his/her identity is kept secret from the public. A review last summer concluded that the program failed to protect patients or help addicted doctors get better. The current program will end June 30th and unless a new program is put in place the state will probably revert to the previous zero tolerance policy.
There are an estimated 8,000 impaired doctors in this country ... do you have one? I've known some who were courageous enough to admit their problems and become champions for patient protection. The stories they tell are terrifying and only the secrecy-shrouded medical system allows it to continue.
The good news is the trend is beginning to turn as a result of the hideous mistakes by these few bad apples. Slowly there is more transparency coming into the system so patients can learn more about their doctors and protect themselves. It's long overdue.
There are an estimated 8,000 impaired doctors in this country ... do you have one? I've known some who were courageous enough to admit their problems and become champions for patient protection. The stories they tell are terrifying and only the secrecy-shrouded medical system allows it to continue.
The good news is the trend is beginning to turn as a result of the hideous mistakes by these few bad apples. Slowly there is more transparency coming into the system so patients can learn more about their doctors and protect themselves. It's long overdue.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
The Standards of Doctors
Interesting study done by Massachusetts General Hospital recently about the ethics of doctors. It seems 45% of those responding admitted they hadn't always reported impaired or incompetent colleagues or significant medical mistakes. And these are the same folks complaining about the safety of complementary and alternative medicine?
1/3 admitted they'd order an unnecessary and expensive MRI scan just to get rid of a complaining patient while 25% said they'd refer patients to an imaging center in which they had a direct financial interest ... and not bother informing the patient of the conflict of interest. Ethics, anyone?
1/3 admitted they'd order an unnecessary and expensive MRI scan just to get rid of a complaining patient while 25% said they'd refer patients to an imaging center in which they had a direct financial interest ... and not bother informing the patient of the conflict of interest. Ethics, anyone?
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