A doctor’s reminder

May 25, 2006 By

First, she knew this was coming but there's some other things I want to wrap up.

First, she knew this was coming. She closed her store the week before she went into the hospital (and had been trying to sell it for months).

She told lots of people she was tired and thought something bad was going to happen. She even, after having the first proceedure completed successfully, thought she cheated death.

But, she had some wacky beliefs. It's why I wasn't very close with her. She was VERY into alternative medicine and didn't believe in doctors at all.

That belief might have cost her some time here. We'll never know for sure.

One reason I wanted to share this is if you aren't feeling well, go see a doctor, even if you don't have health insurance. It might save your life.

Dave Winer told me stories similar. We all get stubborn and don't want to hear bad news. So we put off that kind of stuff until absolutely necessary.

In my mom's case she had more than a liter of fluid around her heart that had been getting worse over a matter of months.

Not going into the doctor made that initial heart condition much worse than it would have been had it been caught early.

Coming back from Montana I sat next to a lady who was reading a best-selling book on alternative medicine. I almost talked to her about my mom but decided against it. My mom wouldn't listen to reason. I got the sense that this lady sitting next to me believed strongly in alternative medicine too and so wouldn't listen to reason either.

But, I read over her shoulder some of the book. The author (who I won't name here, cause he's already preyed on too many) takes a decided anti-corporate stance.

That anti-corporate attitude makes it easy to prey on people, particularly older people who are scared of the Walmarts and Microsoft's and other big companies.

I don't know how to solve that. More will die cause of the fear of the doctor. Of the corporations. Of the hospitals. Of misunderstanding scientific principles. Of not believing true experts. (Hey, I'm not one, so don't believe me, but don't believe everything you read in books or on the Internet either).

One of her doctors, on hearing this, said he always listens when people say that they think they are going to die soon. He says that actually comes true a lot of times, so he takes that very seriously and looks harder for problems.

Over the past two weeks I find myself wondering "what if?"

Seemed like something good to remind everyone else of too.

Oh, and whether or not you believe in alternative medicine, at least do what my mom did. Have a will drawn up. Make sure everyone knows where your bank accounts are and what you want to happen in case something bad happens in the hospital and the family needs to decide on your behalf whether you should be kept alive or not. One other thing I wish she had done? Made it easier to find all of her friends and family's phone numbers. That reminds me to do some cleaning on my contacts and printing them out.

Anyway, some things to think about.

Filed Under: 1

H

I think, no I am 90% sure I know who you are talking about. That guy comes off as a quack even on the TV interviews he does.
http://www.chipsquips.com/ Sterling Camden

There’s a lot the doctors don’t know, too. Enough said.
H

I think, no I am 90% sure I know who you are talking about. That guy comes off as a quack even on the TV interviews he does.
http://www.chipsquips.com Sterling Camden

There’s a lot the doctors don’t know, too. Enough said.
http://scripting.wordpress.com/ Dave Winer

Before you write off alternative medicine, be aware that both kinds of medicine influence each other. And it’s not black and white either. You should talk with my mother, who is in her mid-70s and has the same heart genes that I have and my uncle had (her brother) but she’s never been sick a day in her life. She treats herself with preventive medicines, stuff a lot of the doctors don’t believe in, but she’s living proof that there’s something important going on there.

I agree with many of the things you say here, but not that the corporate health care system has the answers. They have some answers, and are able to work miracles. But the alternative approaches have merit too.
http://scripting.wordpress.com/ Dave Winer

Before you write off alternative medicine, be aware that both kinds of medicine influence each other. And it’s not black and white either. You should talk with my mother, who is in her mid-70s and has the same heart genes that I have and my uncle had (her brother) but she’s never been sick a day in her life. She treats herself with preventive medicines, stuff a lot of the doctors don’t believe in, but she’s living proof that there’s something important going on there.

I agree with many of the things you say here, but not that the corporate health care system has the answers. They have some answers, and are able to work miracles. But the alternative approaches have merit too.
http://jonpatch.wordpress.com/ Jon Patch

Robert, thanks for continuing to share your journey, and in this difficult time sharing some wise advise. I learned long ago that the “alternative” medicine forms are often viable options, but they are best looked at as a way to complement western medical traditions so that we get the best of both. My GP is a certified acupuncturist, for example.

Thank you for willingness to model honesty.
http://jonpatch.wordpress.com Jon Patch

Robert, thanks for continuing to share your journey, and in this difficult time sharing some wise advise. I learned long ago that the “alternative” medicine forms are often viable options, but they are best looked at as a way to complement western medical traditions so that we get the best of both. My GP is a certified acupuncturist, for example.

Thank you for willingness to model honesty.
joey

People would like to go see doctors, but in more cases then not they are going to see salesman who prescribe medicine with the end result of getting people hooked on the medicine and the pockets of the drug companies fattter and fatter.

It’s not as cut and dry as you are saying. Ask around and see how many people personally know people whose lives have been completely destroyed by the medical system. That’s why people don’t trust the medical system, first / second hand knowledge of it’s life-crippling potential.
joey

People would like to go see doctors, but in more cases then not they are going to see salesman who prescribe medicine with the end result of getting people hooked on the medicine and the pockets of the drug companies fattter and fatter.

It’s not as cut and dry as you are saying. Ask around and see how many people personally know people whose lives have been completely destroyed by the medical system. That’s why people don’t trust the medical system, first / second hand knowledge of it’s life-crippling potential.
Podesta

I agree with Robert about this. There is no proof that most alternative ‘medicine’ treatments work. Quite the opposite. Those which have been examined scientifically, including popular treatments such as green tea as a preventative and laetrile as a cure for cancer, have been proven to have no effect or, regarding laetrile, to be harmful. (It can cause mercury poisoning.) Those of us who live in the West are fortunate to have the best medical care in the world available to us if we can afford it. We should take advantage of that good fortune

Dave, your mother may not have the same heart related genes you do. Even siblings (who have a closer genetic heritage than parent and child) can be quite different genetically. It is likely that the alternative medicine she is practicing is having no effect at all.
Podesta

I agree with Robert about this. There is no proof that most alternative ‘medicine’ treatments work. Quite the opposite. Those which have been examined scientifically, including popular treatments such as green tea as a preventative and laetrile as a cure for cancer, have been proven to have no effect or, regarding laetrile, to be harmful. (It can cause mercury poisoning.) Those of us who live in the West are fortunate to have the best medical care in the world available to us if we can afford it. We should take advantage of that good fortune

Dave, your mother may not have the same heart related genes you do. Even siblings (who have a closer genetic heritage than parent and child) can be quite different genetically. It is likely that the alternative medicine she is practicing is having no effect at all.
http://www.dhtmlnirvana.com/ Eddie Traversa

Or had she seen a doctor sooner she may well have died before her time.

If you look at the physicians’ desk reference and go through each medicine in there you will note that each of these has side effects, every single one with many of them containing the potential to kill us.
The point being it may well have been her beliefs in alternative medicine that kept her going for as long as she did.

You cannot know one way or another.

As for traditional medicine don’t believe everything those doctors tell you. Most don’t even know that morphine only works in a third of people. Another third are influenced by a placebo effect and another third it has no effect at all. There have been many well designed scientific studies on this. The reason I came across it I was doing research into pain for my masters thesis years ago.

Podesta obviously you haven’t don’t a whole lot of research into the subject. On the contrary there is overwhleming scientific evidence that a number of alternative therapies do work. Not all, but some. The antioxident effects have been well demonstrated scientifically for a number of years now with many studies being avialable on this topic. I could easily pull out a number of articles for the medical databases on this. You will find a few studies contradicting it too, but guess who by and large funds those studies? The established drug companies…

In the field of alternative medicine there have been numerous scientific studies that cannot be faulted on design or methodology that unequivocally demonstrate the beneficial effects of some alternative therapies. For example, there are a number of studies that demonstrate the efficacy of hypnosis in pain management over traditional medicines with no side effects. There are also lots of studies on aspects of Chinese medicine that demonstrate their healing potential. Homeopathy is another one that has been rigorously tested scientifically and demonstrated much to the bemusement of those stuck in antiquated Cartesian principles to work. And what does the traditional “scientific” community do with these studies. Refuse to publish them in the major journals, even though the peer review committee themselves replicated the results. How do we know these studies exist? Because they have been published in lesser known journals. One only has to dig around to find them.

Apart from that the most consistent scientific finding is that it is what people believe that by and large affects their illness and mortality rate. If a person’s believes they will get well irrespective of treatment their chances of getting well are considerably improved. The mind body connection has been known for a long time by the scientific community.

That is not to say that people should embrace all alternative medicines. For example there are areas in the alternative field that have no value other than as a placebo effect. Aromatherapy comes to mind readily where recent studies demonstrate that it has no effect on people in terms of getting better. It acts as a placebo effect.

It is to say however that people should research the areas before dismissing them completely. Some of the stuff in the alternative fields works amazing well, others have no effect. So part of what one needs to do is discern what works and what doesn’t before making cover all statements.
http://www.dhtmlnirvana.com/ Eddie Traversa

Or had she seen a doctor sooner she may well have died before her time.

If you look at the physicians’ desk reference and go through each medicine in there you will note that each of these has side effects, every single one with many of them containing the potential to kill us.
The point being it may well have been her beliefs in alternative medicine that kept her going for as long as she did.

You cannot know one way or another.

As for traditional medicine don’t believe everything those doctors tell you. Most don’t even know that morphine only works in a third of people. Another third are influenced by a placebo effect and another third it has no effect at all. There have been many well designed scientific studies on this. The reason I came across it I was doing research into pain for my masters thesis years ago.

Podesta obviously you haven’t don’t a whole lot of research into the subject. On the contrary there is overwhleming scientific evidence that a number of alternative therapies do work. Not all, but some. The antioxident effects have been well demonstrated scientifically for a number of years now with many studies being avialable on this topic. I could easily pull out a number of articles for the medical databases on this. You will find a few studies contradicting it too, but guess who by and large funds those studies? The established drug companies…

In the field of alternative medicine there have been numerous scientific studies that cannot be faulted on design or methodology that unequivocally demonstrate the beneficial effects of some alternative therapies. For example, there are a number of studies that demonstrate the efficacy of hypnosis in pain management over traditional medicines with no side effects. There are also lots of studies on aspects of Chinese medicine that demonstrate their healing potential. Homeopathy is another one that has been rigorously tested scientifically and demonstrated much to the bemusement of those stuck in antiquated Cartesian principles to work. And what does the traditional “scientific” community do with these studies. Refuse to publish them in the major journals, even though the peer review committee themselves replicated the results. How do we know these studies exist? Because they have been published in lesser known journals. One only has to dig around to find them.

Apart from that the most consistent scientific finding is that it is what people believe that by and large affects their illness and mortality rate. If a person’s believes they will get well irrespective of treatment their chances of getting well are considerably improved. The mind body connection has been known for a long time by the scientific community.

That is not to say that people should embrace all alternative medicines. For example there are areas in the alternative field that have no value other than as a placebo effect. Aromatherapy comes to mind readily where recent studies demonstrate that it has no effect on people in terms of getting better. It acts as a placebo effect.

It is to say however that people should research the areas before dismissing them completely. Some of the stuff in the alternative fields works amazing well, others have no effect. So part of what one needs to do is discern what works and what doesn’t before making cover all statements.
http://brianmseo.blogspot.com/ Brian M

I am so sorry about your mom… I wish there was more that I could do to ease your pain, but I know that no words will console…

Brian M
Tachikoma

another reason why some people dislike doctors is because they tend to be very cold when it comes to treating patients.
http://brianmseo.blogspot.com Brian M

I am so sorry about your mom… I wish there was more that I could do to ease your pain, but I know that no words will console…

Brian M
Tachikoma

another reason why some people dislike doctors is because they tend to be very cold when it comes to treating patients.
http://lqblog.com/ Dave Fourputt

Besides a will you should also let your family know your feelings about organ donation.
http://lqblog.com Dave Fourputt

Besides a will you should also let your family know your feelings about organ donation.
http://blog.donnael.com/ Garrett Fitzgerald

I need to update my will. It specifies various things I had to cash in/sell off when I left MS, and I haven’t confirmed with Ael’s godparents that they can still take the girls in now that we both have two kids.
http://blog.donnael.com/ Garrett Fitzgerald

I need to update my will. It specifies various things I had to cash in/sell off when I left MS, and I haven’t confirmed with Ael’s godparents that they can still take the girls in now that we both have two kids.
http://www.softwareandtools.com/ Tejas Patel

I agree with commenter no. 3, Dave Winer. I will not write off alternative medicines as I know when they work, they work well compared to traditional methods of medicines.
http://www.softwareandtools.com Tejas Patel

I agree with commenter no. 3, Dave Winer. I will not write off alternative medicines as I know when they work, they work well compared to traditional methods of medicines.
http://www.coolbits.nu/1042.aspx Avonelle Lovhaug

Robert, I’m sorry to learn about your mom. My dad is dying right now of cancer, and I’ve posted a little about his belief in alternative medicine at coolbits. I personally believe that if some of the alternatives work, then reproducible scientific studies will prove it. But in a lot of cases, it is a bunch of baloney.
http://www.coolbits.nu/1042.aspx Avonelle Lovhaug

Robert, I’m sorry to learn about your mom. My dad is dying right now of cancer, and I’ve posted a little about his belief in alternative medicine at coolbits. I personally believe that if some of the alternatives work, then reproducible scientific studies will prove it. But in a lot of cases, it is a bunch of baloney.
Anonymous

Robert:

Sad news – we follwed your trip out to Montana a few weeks ago with trepedation. And, now the news comes.

My Mom’s bout with breast cancer began when she hemmoraged in the bathroom; she hadn’t been to see a doctor in maybe 20 years. Since her trusted Dr. Reuben passed away. Her cancer ate at her for a lot of years before she passed away – but I know that if she had seen a doctor earlier she would have had a lot less pain and suffering, at least.

Take care – it takes a long time to get over the death of a parent.
http://www.mediadude.com Steve Burgess

Robert:

Sad news – we follwed your trip out to Montana a few weeks ago with trepedation. And, now the news comes.

My Mom’s bout with breast cancer began when she hemmoraged in the bathroom; she hadn’t been to see a doctor in maybe 20 years. Since her trusted Dr. Reuben passed away. Her cancer ate at her for a lot of years before she passed away – but I know that if she had seen a doctor earlier she would have had a lot less pain and suffering, at least.

Take care – it takes a long time to get over the death of a parent.
http://www.sortanalytics.com/ Brooks Jordan

I think some alternative approaches have validity. I swear that I couldn’t get from my regular doctor, who I think is fantastic, what I get from my acupuncturist. I have equal respect for both.

Something’s working for the Pistons along these lines, too:

—
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/25/sports/
basketball/25pistons.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

The players credit their quick recoveries to Arnie Kander, the Pistons’ longtime strength coach. Kander is renowned throughout the N.B.A. for his unconventional methods and his blending of Eastern and Western medicines.

Kander blends his own nutritional drinks, all individually tailored, for each of the Pistons every day. He eschews anti-inflammatories, which other teams dispense by the dozen, in favor of herbal mixtures that naturally drain swelling. And he creates personalized workout regimens designed to correct and maintain the mechanics of each player’s body. (Kander immediately knocked on the basketball court when asked about the Pistons’ uncanny health.)

“He’s a genius when it comes to this stuff,” said Hunter, a veteran of four teams.
—
http://www.sortanalytics.com Brooks Jordan

I think some alternative approaches have validity. I swear that I couldn’t get from my regular doctor, who I think is fantastic, what I get from my acupuncturist. I have equal respect for both.

Something’s working for the Pistons along these lines, too:

—
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/25/sports/
basketball/25pistons.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

The players credit their quick recoveries to Arnie Kander, the Pistons’ longtime strength coach. Kander is renowned throughout the N.B.A. for his unconventional methods and his blending of Eastern and Western medicines.

Kander blends his own nutritional drinks, all individually tailored, for each of the Pistons every day. He eschews anti-inflammatories, which other teams dispense by the dozen, in favor of herbal mixtures that naturally drain swelling. And he creates personalized workout regimens designed to correct and maintain the mechanics of each player’s body. (Kander immediately knocked on the basketball court when asked about the Pistons’ uncanny health.)

“He’s a genius when it comes to this stuff,” said Hunter, a veteran of four teams.
—
dmad

as another poster said, some doctors don’t know either. My mother succumbed to congestive heart failure. The first doctor that treated her when she was first diagnosed was a complete quack. Makes me wonder if she would have survived longer had she been treated by someone other than a quack. As Jerry Seinfeld says, not every one in med school can get an “A”. Where are all these doctors that are getting “B’s” and “C’s” practicing?

@6. We have the best medical care even if we can’t afford it. You and I just end up paying for those that can’t.
dmad

as another poster said, some doctors don’t know either. My mother succumbed to congestive heart failure. The first doctor that treated her when she was first diagnosed was a complete quack. Makes me wonder if she would have survived longer had she been treated by someone other than a quack. As Jerry Seinfeld says, not every one in med school can get an “A”. Where are all these doctors that are getting “B’s” and “C’s” practicing?

@6. We have the best medical care even if we can’t afford it. You and I just end up paying for those that can’t.
http://davidmsc.wordpress.com/ davidmsc

I once heard that FEAR of cancer is more deadly than cancer itself. But chalk it up to human nature — it’s so comforting to deny even a possibility of the “c” word, rather than finding out for sure.
http://davidmsc.wordpress.com/ davidmsc

I once heard that FEAR of cancer is more deadly than cancer itself. But chalk it up to human nature — it’s so comforting to deny even a possibility of the “c” word, rather than finding out for sure.
Tom Nelson

Robert, My heartfelt condolences go out to you and your fsmily, I went through losing mine slightly over a year ago. For different reasons I was not as close to her as I should have been either. But it is still tough to bear even after a year (probably more so because I felt I didn’t do enough to understand who she was). No matter what they were Mom, you can never get past that. Sounds like she was a good woman, keep that in mind.
Don’t forget to give Patrick an extra hug ot two, even if he wasn’t close to her he is sharing your pain (at his age he probably won’t let it show it much, but it’s there).
Excellent advice about taking care of affairs before it is to late. The biggest corporation of all (both Fed and State) get much to involved if you don’t.
As to all of you “alt med” folks, please keep in mind all of the quackery and huckstering (read MLM) that has been around for so long. Too many cases of no real science that have truly hurt people is not a good thing.
Take care of business, folks. Try everything that has real PROOF (not mangled stats) behind it.
Time to talk to Mom (it works!) and go to bed. Thanks for sharing in this tough time Robert!
Tom Nelson

Robert, My heartfelt condolences go out to you and your fsmily, I went through losing mine slightly over a year ago. For different reasons I was not as close to her as I should have been either. But it is still tough to bear even after a year (probably more so because I felt I didn’t do enough to understand who she was). No matter what they were Mom, you can never get past that. Sounds like she was a good woman, keep that in mind.
Don’t forget to give Patrick an extra hug ot two, even if he wasn’t close to her he is sharing your pain (at his age he probably won’t let it show it much, but it’s there).
Excellent advice about taking care of affairs before it is to late. The biggest corporation of all (both Fed and State) get much to involved if you don’t.
As to all of you “alt med” folks, please keep in mind all of the quackery and huckstering (read MLM) that has been around for so long. Too many cases of no real science that have truly hurt people is not a good thing.
Take care of business, folks. Try everything that has real PROOF (not mangled stats) behind it.
Time to talk to Mom (it works!) and go to bed. Thanks for sharing in this tough time Robert!
Jim S

Unlike so many posters I’m not going to defend alternative medicine but I will point out that it’s very easy to say that people with no health insurance should see a doctor but there are reasons that people don’t do it. There is no law forcing doctors to see people who are uninsured and I doubt any doctors outside of those in free clinics do so. Secondly there is a justifiable fear of the destruction of your credit rating if the bills are turned over to collection agencies as they most certainly will be if you don’t have the money to pay. And a credit rating is no longer simply the key to the ability to get credit cards, a car or a mortgage. Almost every employer runs a credit check as do any potential landlords. Once it’s destroyed it takes many years to rebuild. The uninsured have very limited options.
Jim S

Unlike so many posters I’m not going to defend alternative medicine but I will point out that it’s very easy to say that people with no health insurance should see a doctor but there are reasons that people don’t do it. There is no law forcing doctors to see people who are uninsured and I doubt any doctors outside of those in free clinics do so. Secondly there is a justifiable fear of the destruction of your credit rating if the bills are turned over to collection agencies as they most certainly will be if you don’t have the money to pay. And a credit rating is no longer simply the key to the ability to get credit cards, a car or a mortgage. Almost every employer runs a credit check as do any potential landlords. Once it’s destroyed it takes many years to rebuild. The uninsured have very limited options.
james

Condolences to you.

I know who you refer to ( the author of the book) he’s been charged with fraud in the past, big article in LA times a while ago.

Alternative medicine can be a very good prophylactic.
But when you have definite symptoms, go see an MD.
james

Condolences to you.

I know who you refer to ( the author of the book) he’s been charged with fraud in the past, big article in LA times a while ago.

Alternative medicine can be a very good prophylactic.
But when you have definite symptoms, go see an MD.
http://weblog.vb-tech.com/nick Nick Swan

Sorry to hear about you mum, best wishes to you and your family.

I agree with what you say about making a contacts list of people you know. I now have friends on msn messenger and xbox live that I would like to know if something happened to me but my girlfriend would have no idea of how to contact.

perhaps an idea for a new web 2.0 site!
http://weblog.vb-tech.com/nick Nick Swan

Sorry to hear about you mum, best wishes to you and your family.

I agree with what you say about making a contacts list of people you know. I now have friends on msn messenger and xbox live that I would like to know if something happened to me but my girlfriend would have no idea of how to contact.

perhaps an idea for a new web 2.0 site!
dmad

@19. Sadly “free healthcare” is not the answer, either. As PJ O’Rourke said: “If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until you see how much it costs when it’s free”
dmad

@19. Sadly “free healthcare” is not the answer, either. As PJ O’Rourke said: “If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until you see how much it costs when it’s free”
Pingback: Alex Scoble's IT Notes - An Information Technology Blog
http://itmanager.blogs.com/ Alexander Scoble

Alternative medicine is fine as an ALTERNATIVE. It should be used, in my opinion, ONLY when regular medicine fails to produce results or perhaps in some cases in place of risky surgeries or treatments.

Yes, alternative cures can produce results, but you owe it to yourself and loved ones to seek quality care from regular doctors and experts first.
http://itmanager.blogs.com Alexander Scoble

Alternative medicine is fine as an ALTERNATIVE. It should be used, in my opinion, ONLY when regular medicine fails to produce results or perhaps in some cases in place of risky surgeries or treatments.

Yes, alternative cures can produce results, but you owe it to yourself and loved ones to seek quality care from regular doctors and experts first.
Carl

I think that you probably summed it up pretty well in a single sentence:

“so he takes that very seriously and looks harder for problems”

This is one of the reasons that people don’t trust doctors, you often need to be able to stumble upon the right keyword for a doctor to link up your symptoms with a possible problem.

It’s very hard for people to describe some symptoms that they may have; one person’s dizzy might be another person’s tired, for example… and unless doctors supplement the PDR with some sort of thesaurus, the situation will not get any better.

Alternative medicine practitioners generally tend to have a more friendly, informative nature, which is another reason that people would prefer to visit them rather than a doctor. There is a reason that the word clinical is used as it is in the English language….

There are other things (at least in the UK) that factor in the decision of whether to go to a doctor or an alternative medicine practitioner:

Time – At a lot of medical practices in the UK, getting an appointment with a doctor is very hard – at my doctors, for example, I can expect to actually see the doctor an average of 2 weeks after my initial request for an appointment. Is this situation acceptable?

Location – In the UK, you are only allowed to register at a medical practice if you live within the ‘catchment area’ for that practice. This means that if you work any more than about 10 miles from where you live, it is necessary to take time off of work in order to visit the doctor. In an age where people are generally commuting further to reach their place of work, is this situation still acceptable?

However, no matter where I am in the country, I am probably pretty close to a place where I can purchase some form of alternative medicine – regardless of whether I live within 5 miles of the place, and during my lunch break.

In case you haven’t noticed, doctors rank highly on my ‘Pet hate’ list, in fact, second only to Banks and other financial institutions. ;o)

C
Carl

I think that you probably summed it up pretty well in a single sentence:

“so he takes that very seriously and looks harder for problems”

This is one of the reasons that people don’t trust doctors, you often need to be able to stumble upon the right keyword for a doctor to link up your symptoms with a possible problem.

It’s very hard for people to describe some symptoms that they may have; one person’s dizzy might be another person’s tired, for example… and unless doctors supplement the PDR with some sort of thesaurus, the situation will not get any better.

Alternative medicine practitioners generally tend to have a more friendly, informative nature, which is another reason that people would prefer to visit them rather than a doctor. There is a reason that the word clinical is used as it is in the English language….

There are other things (at least in the UK) that factor in the decision of whether to go to a doctor or an alternative medicine practitioner:

Time – At a lot of medical practices in the UK, getting an appointment with a doctor is very hard – at my doctors, for example, I can expect to actually see the doctor an average of 2 weeks after my initial request for an appointment. Is this situation acceptable?

Location – In the UK, you are only allowed to register at a medical practice if you live within the ‘catchment area’ for that practice. This means that if you work any more than about 10 miles from where you live, it is necessary to take time off of work in order to visit the doctor. In an age where people are generally commuting further to reach their place of work, is this situation still acceptable?

However, no matter where I am in the country, I am probably pretty close to a place where I can purchase some form of alternative medicine – regardless of whether I live within 5 miles of the place, and during my lunch break.

In case you haven’t noticed, doctors rank highly on my ‘Pet hate’ list, in fact, second only to Banks and other financial institutions. ;o)

C
Carolus.Holman

My friends is a doctor. He probably saves 3 people a day from death, doing now what is considered routine angioplasty. Funny how if one is an “Alternative” health person or cheerleader saving one or two people, I think by coincidence, writing a book and trumpeting your success will gain you followers.

Fact is, science-based healing has saved enumerably more lives than alternative therapies; many people point to Asian medicine with it’s herbs and disgusting concoctions hailing it as great medicine. Why do so many Asians suffer with TB, Hepatitis? IT JUST DOESN’T WORK!

Just my 2 cents.

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