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elliemae
2012 Aug 25, 1:41pm
Non small cell lung cancer in western industrial medicine is a death sentence carried out quickly.
Every case is different.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/non-small-cell-lung/Patient/page1
Traditional Chinese Medicine herbs have not cured my husband, - he's still got his tumor- but they have kept him alive and stable in an acceptable state, without metastasis, sans chemo and radiation damage.
You don't know that the herbs have kept him alive & stable. It simply might be him and his particular cancer. If you believe that he is responding to the herbs, you will tend to see the good in the treatment in which you believe.
I do believe that dies & exercise are important, but Western Medicine saves lives and can be proven with evidence. It's expensive because our healthcare system is for profit.
ELC
2012 Aug 25, 9:27pm
You know, it's cool that you all know people who have spontaneously entered remission. It happens several thousand times a year in the US.
However, please post the medical studies or results of clinical trials demonstrating the effectiveness of these treatments.
Oh wait, you can't? Why not? I can post studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of 5-FU vs Xeloda, of adding Oxiliplatin into treatment, and the raw numbers of surgery alone vs surgery + chemo.
Oh yeah, also please disclose either any profit you will make off these systems and/or you history of mental illness.
K? Tks.
Please post the medical studies that prove chemo cures cancer.
Please post the medical studies that prove chemo cures cancer.
After years of watching him slowly decline I lost my father to kidney failure. In our experience my father kept being pushed to get treatment until he got so weak to the point his treatment center could not prop him up for more $$$$$ treatments then we heard the following, "We are sorry, we have done all we can do. He needs to now go into hospice." So long story short after failed surgeries, hospital induced infections, the suffering we all endured from uncaring doctors, totally useless procedures, and more useless social workers, and nearly three million (...yes $3M USD) in medical expenses for hospitals, transport, surgeries and so-called therapies and "treatments" all the emotional and financial hell, you know what? He went into hospice ....and dropped dead 48 hrs later! leaving us drained with six figures in bills we were left to pay.
One thing is clear to me, treatments surely make a hell of a lot of people big money. I have a science degree (with hons) but after what I experienced first hand IMHO medical in the States is one huge disgusting money milking machine based in greed.
After years of watching him slowly decline I lost my father to kidney failure. In our experience my father kept being pushed to get treatment until he got so weak to the point his treatment center could not prop him up for more $$$$$ treatments then we heard the following, "We are sorry, we have done all we can do. He needs to now go into hospice." So long story short after failed surgeries, hospital induced infections, the suffering we all endured from uncaring doctors, totally useless procedures, and more useless social workers, and nearly three million (...yes $3M USD) in medical expenses for hospitals, transport, surgeries and so-called therapies and "treatments" all the emotional and financial hell, you know what? He went into hospice ....and dropped dead 48 hrs later! leaving us drained with six figures in bills we were left to pay.
Sorry for your loss, but if the system was so bad why did you put up with it for years? As someone with a science degree (with hons) you have the back round and education to have found care more to your liking or let nature take its course after your first unsatisfactory experiences. Medical care is a choice, no one came into your home and kidnapped your father. You are free to do as much research into various treatments available as you would like then make your own judgments. If you disagree with something then don't do it.
The system in the US is terrible in terms of money, but the care is pretty good. It's doubtful the care would have been much different anywhere else, medical care is pretty standard around the world. Availability varies widely, but everyone treats pretty much the same. The cost would have been much different.
ELC
2012 Aug 26, 4:51am
Sorry for your loss, but if the system was so bad why did you put up with it for years?
Because there are no alternative medicine centers where someone in bad shape can go and get insurance covered nursing care. You can refuse traditional treatments but you can't have alternative treatments administered. So you're faced with bringing someone who needs 24 hour nursing care home and do your own thing (and risk arrest for elder abuse) or do your best to reduce harm where they are.
BTW, Hospice is just a legal form of Euthanasia these days. Before you let a loved one into hospice you need to make sure they put in writing EXACTLY what they intend to do. Most will drug the patient to the point that they can't eat or drink and they usually die (are murdered) within days.
FNWGMOBDVZXDNW
2012 Aug 26, 5:12am
Sorry for your loss, but if the system was so bad why did you put up with it for years? As someone with a science degree (with hons) you have the back round and education to have found care more to your liking or let nature take its course after your first unsatisfactory experiences.
I don't want to speak for Reader, but think that this is an unfair response to his/her story. Everything in our society tells us the the medical profession is the best in the world & that is our best hope for whatever ails us. It also gives some false hope that when we are ill, it will provide the best fix. Maybe it took 5 years and some separation from the event for Reader to form this opinion. Now, Reader is sharing that, and other people may benefit from it. Facts are: (1) there are a lot of crappy doctors out there, just like any profession. If you sense that yours sucks, then you should go somewhere else (2) some problems are not well understood. If a doc can not solve a problem, then you might get it fixed by going to other doctors or trying other fixes.
elliemae
2012 Aug 26, 5:17am
BTW, Hospice is just a legal form of Euthanasia these days. Before you let a loved one into hospice you need to make sure they put in writing EXACTLY what they intend to do. Most will drug the patient to the point that they can't eat or drink and they usually die (are murdered) within days.
Hospice is a type of care that provides all of the supplies, equipment, medical oversight, nursing & CNA care, and medications related to a patient's terminal diagnosis.
I've worked hospice for more than 15 years. It is not euthanasia, not by a long shot. The medications are strong enough to help with the pain, but they don't kill the patient. Even if a family member accidentally (?) overdoses the patient, it's rarely results in the patient's death. Patients are terminal, and their disease process is what takes them.
The body shuts down at the end of a patient's life, and he/she is no longer able to eat. People stop eating gradually as the process progresses, but it's not the medications that cause that. Family members often try to force food upon the patient, which can cause them to aspirate the food into their lungs. They often die of pneumonia when that happens.
The hospices deliver a week's worth of medications in order to keep costs down, but also to ensure that there isn't enough medication in the house to harm anyone.
Advanced directives are important - people have the right to choose what treatment they do (and don't) want. Most people pass on a feeding tube, because at the point that the patient is no longer able to take in nutrition & hydration a feeding tube won't help keep him alive.
Family members also have the right to make decisions that override the patient's wishes. If a patient chooses to be a DNR with no artificial nutrition/hydration, as soon as the patient no longer has the capacity to make decisions the family can call 911 and send him to the hospital. They can place feeding tubes, IV's, surgery, whatever they want that the doctors feel would treat the patient.
I can't even count the number of times I've been asked by a patient or family member to speed up the process because it's so difficult for the patient/family to go through. It is most certainly not euthanasia - that is a quick, painless solution that is compassionate for animals. Humans go through the dying process, no matter how long it takes or how distressing it is.
Because there are no alternative medicine centers where someone in bad shape can go and get insurance covered nursing care. You can refuse traditional treatments but you can't have alternative treatments administered. So you're faced with bringing someone who needs 24 hour nursing care home and do your own thing (and risk arrest for elder abuse) or do your best to reduce harm where they are.
I don't know what state you are in, but we brought my father in law with terminal cancer home with no problems at all. with a lot of the nursing covered by insurance, then on to hospice at the very end.
Hospice is for terminal patients, it's very clearly explained. Moving someone to hospice without knowing what they do or why then calling it murder is pretty unfair. You are not the victim of some vast conspiracy if you choose to be uninformed.
I don't want to speak for Reader, but think that this is an unfair response to his/her story. Everything in our society tells us the the medical profession is the best in the world & that is our best hope for whatever ails us. It also gives some false hope that when we are ill, it will provide the best fix.
I disagree, you need a certain degree of self responsibility. You can't have it both ways, saying you trusted the system implicitly but then saying after the fact you don't agree with how the system works. Even the most rudimentary reading up on medical care shows there are wide varieties of opinions on treatment for any given condition. It's up to you to decide what you are comfortable with. All medical people can do is give you their best opinion based on their experience and preferences.
ELC
2012 Aug 26, 7:11am
All medical people can do is give you their best opinion based on their experience and preferences
Doctors are terrible at educating their patients properly. They know if they told you the whole story you would never do it. Things are in such a bad state that in Florida laws called, "informed consent" were passed. Even with those laws requiring a doctor to inform their patient of the risks most malpratice lawsuits hinge on them failing to follow the law. Yet they still refuse to follow the law.
elliemae
2012 Aug 26, 8:21am
Things are in such a bad state that in Florida laws called, "informed consent" were passed. Even with those laws requiring a doctor to inform their patient of the risks most malpratice lawsuits hinge on them failing to follow the law. Yet they still refuse to follow the law.
Informed consent isn't just a Florida thing - it's applicable across the board.
I have personally witnessed a helluva lot of fraud & corruption. The system isn't set up to protect people who become whistle blowers, nor is it fair. Doctors do the best that they can with the information that they have - but if they're not informed, they can't tell the family member & patient.
The manufacturer was required by the FDA to tell the hospital to stop providing the stent to doctors. They never sent out the letters.
Sounds like the physician wasn't informed either.
Doctors are terrible at educating their patients properly. They know if they told you the whole story you would never do it.
Doctors explain procedures to patients & their families every day. There is no benefit to them in withholding information from their patients. Most doctors don't equate treatment with money (I'm sure there are some out there who do); they see their patients and prescribe the treatment they believe will be most beneficial.
So you're faced with bringing someone who needs 24 hour nursing care home and do your own thing (and risk arrest for elder abuse) or do your best to reduce harm where they are.
Our system is set up to follow traditional western medical advice. however, patients who are in nursing homes are able to take herbs, go & seek alternative therapies, etc. Their doctors has to "allow" it, but if they don't order the care the patient can fire him & find a doc who does allow for it.
People have the right to seek their own treatment, refuse medications and treat their bodies however they would like to. As long as patients are clean, safe & dry, Adult Protective can't do anything about it.
Nursing homes are places that provide custodial care (24-hour care) to patients. I've seen family members seek alternative therapies and there was no problem at all. Granted, there aren't nursing homes who provide the alternative therapies (to my knowledge), but then again patients who are receiving traditional treatments usually have to go out of the building to receive the treatment.
ELC
2012 Aug 26, 8:45am
The manufacturer was required by the FDA to tell the hospital to stop providing the stent to doctors. They never sent out the letters.
Sounds like the physician wasn't informed either.
ELC
2012 Aug 26, 8:58am
Doctors explain procedures to patients & their families every day. There is no benefit to them in withholding information from their patients. Most doctors don't equate treatment with money (I'm sure there are some out there who do); they see their patients and prescribe the treatment they believe will be most beneficial.
I asked a doctor friend of mine why they wouldn't tell me straight, he said, "the more you tell them the more they have to obsess about. One question leads to another and before you know it you've wasted a half hours time. Also some doctors don't like to lower themselves to the point of having to sell someone on the procedure or having to answer tough questions. No one likes to put themselves into the position of being rejected or their recommendation questioned. That's why an assistant is usually the one who does the explaining."
So it's not that they're withholding information. It's that human nature being what it is they don't want to open Pandora's Box.
The owner of the stent manufacturer that paralysed my mother was listed in Forbes as having a net worth of 5 BILLION dollars. You think you're safe when that kind of money is up for grabs?
Who is that, I'd like to read about this.
Everything in our society tells us the the medical profession is the best in the world & that is our best hope for whatever ails us. It also gives some false hope that when we are ill, it will provide the best fix.
Thank you. It kills me the arsehole presumptions some make about our or my self-responsibility regarding my father. We held plenty of self-responsibility, and we did our research. We have money and highly regarded insurance. We went through numerous advisors, doctors, consultations, surgeons, hospitals and treatment centres ...and frankly it was in our opinion all the same circle of bullshite the more involved the worse it got and THAT is the reality of our situation.
I agree, it is all about false hope and a fix at a price in my opinion. It is SO horrific that (get this one) after being under a very expensive highly regarded team his so-called Five Star top-rated team of doctors, (see yes we DID our homework for the best around money could buy,) they did not even write my family a condolence letter upon his death. We NEVER heard from them again after one of their big sources of income died.
FuckTheMainstreamMedia
2012 Aug 27, 3:20am
You know, it's cool that you all know people who have spontaneously entered remission. It happens several thousand times a year in the US.
However, please post the medical studies or results of clinical trials demonstrating the effectiveness of these treatments.
Oh wait, you can't? Why not? I can post studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of 5-FU vs Xeloda, of adding Oxiliplatin into treatment, and the raw numbers of surgery alone vs surgery + chemo.
Oh yeah, also please disclose either any profit you will make off these systems and/or you history of mental illness.
K? Tks.
Please post the medical studies that prove chemo cures cancer.
For starters, your premise.."that proves chemo cures cancer" is an entirely false premise. Chemo doesn't necessarily cure cancer. It does slow/stunt tumor growth and it does decrease chance of recurrence in some/most patients. If you believe the assertion is that chemo "cures" cancer, you need to re-adjust your thinking because no one believes that. Easiest way to argue against something is to create a strawman...an argument that no one actually made...and argue against that.
But heres the proof...at least some of it. TBH I'm too lazy to click on all the studies I have bookmarked.
http://www.asco.org/ASCOv2/Meetings/Abstracts?&vmview=abst_detail_view&confID=103&abstractID=70862
Or in easier to read language:
Again, I'll assert that the alternative treatment people, much as the earlier video stated, are either lying or are mentally/emotionally unstable.
Chemo doesn't necessarily cure cancer. It does slow/stunt tumor growth and it does decrease chance of recurrence in some/most patients.
Here it is phrases like these "doesn't necessarily" or in "some/most" and every other half-backed bullshite thrown at the pubilc including but not limited to: almost, could, should, maybe, possibly, potentially, etc., etc. etc.
Yes, slows or stunts cancer growth sure why not ....because chemo is killing ALL the cells in its path!
...the chemo, but the chemo would probably kill him in the interim with side effects. That was 25 months ago!
I just posted without reading the above. I REST MY CASE.
Discussions: 0
You didn't post the information. Who is the billionare owner of this medical supply company that killed your mother. I'm really curious now.
ELC
2012 Aug 27, 5:00am
>http://fightcolorectalcancer.org/research_news/2011/02/chemo_delay_after_surgery_reduces_survival_rates
But heres the proof...at least some of it. TBH I'm too lazy to click on all the studies I have bookmarked.
Almost every doctor speaking at a symposium is a paid consultant for a drug company. Symposiums are the worst example you can give. They are sponsored by drug companies and are designed to market their products to doctors. The doctors are often given lavish vacations and perks to attend these sales conventions. They even conduct them on cruise ships and give them and a guest a free cruise.
It's the speakers job to look at a study and accentuate the positive and reinterpret the negative to make it sound positive. The results of a true high powered randomized study will never be shown at a symposium. Just innocuous abstracts.
Always look for the disclosures. They're required by law. Why do you think that is? It's to warn doctors of conflict of interest. But do they heed the warnings? Not if it's not in their financial best interest.
Just take a look at the absract disclosures for this symposium!
If you want to check out who's pocket your doctor is in just type their name in front of this search string and Google it. You may be surprised how they make extra money. Some even get a bonus for using a particular medical device or drug. At least you'll know why they may be recommending the treatment they are.
"consultant for" OR "paid consultant" OR "receives royalties" OR "research grant" OR "received grant/research" OR "received honoraria" OR "speakers bureau for"
There is some evidence that believing something works helps the outcome. But the truth is with a few exceptions chemotherapy is a racket.
FuckTheMainstreamMedia
2012 Aug 27, 5:29am
At this point, I'm going with mentally/emotionally unstable.
I agree, it is all about false hope and a fix at a price in my opinion. It is SO horrific that (get this one) after being under a very expensive highly regarded team his so-called Five Star top-rated team of doctors, (see yes we DID our homework for the best around money could buy,) they did not even write my family a condolence letter upon his death. We NEVER heard from them again after one of their big sources of income died.
Ok this has gone into the realm of hard to believe.
One patient of a team (practice??) of 5 star (I've never seen a rating system for doctors, please share where you can look this up) rated doctors (no names I notice, one would think you would want to share with people who to avoid) is far from "a big source of income" for a practice. A big practice of doctors has hundreds of active patients. I used to work for a medical billing company and was in and out of the offices all the time. I can tell you for a fact that the doctors don't have a clue what any one patient is billed. It's unlikely the office billing staff does without looking it up.
Even if they were to find out that a former patient in a hospice has died almost no doctors office sends out letters of condolence. They should, but it's industry practice that they don't. If your 5 star rated team doesn't do it then they don't do it, it's not a personal indictment against you. If they sent out letters of condolence to everyone but you then I could see your point.
Yes I've dealt with terminal family members right through hospice and death so don't say I don't understand. It sounds like you need to get some help to stop placing blame for the natural process of dying and get on with your life. I find it totally impossible to believe that the large number of people you describe involved in the years of medical care you describe could be all totally incompetent and everything they did made the situation worse.
ELC
2012 Aug 27, 6:09am
I find it totally impossible to believe that the large number of people you describe involved in the years of medical care you describe could be all totally incompetent and everything they did made the situation worse.
I believe it. That was my experience too. It's not the individual that's incompetent it's the way the system is set up. Of course it's not in a drug company's best interest to kill their cash cow. But the drug and device companies are sales driven. The sales department is going to resist recommending the use of their drug be withdrawn or not used at all regardless of the damage being done. So there becomes a balance between sales figures and the legal liabilities. The huge profits take care of most of the legal hurdles leaving the sales department almost free reign.
We're supposed to be under a system of, "evidence based medicine" but the sales departments have learned that if you pay a consultant well enough they will tell their colleagues whatever "evidence" you feed to them. And the doctor will believe their collegue. Especially if he's for example head of the Harvard Medical School.
Check out this article http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/business/03medschool.html?pagewanted=all
BOSTON — In a first-year pharmacology class at Harvard Medical School, Matt Zerden grew wary as the professor promoted the benefits of cholesterol drugs and seemed to belittle a student who asked about side effects.
Mr. Zerden later discovered something by searching online that he began sharing with his classmates. The professor was not only a full-time member of the Harvard Medical faculty, but a paid consultant to 10 drug companies, including five makers of cholesterol treatments.
robynfrog
2012 Aug 27, 6:22am
My hubby was advised to treat another very serious autoimmune condition before treating his lung tumor. After 4 months, his tumor had grown 200%,
Western medicine's treatement for autoimmune conditions ALWAYS involves immune-suppressing medications. The only way the body can fight cancer is with its immune system. Using immune-suppressing drugs leaves you succeptible to life-threatening infections and yes, cancer.
Here is a link to a great traditional chinese medicine site:
http://alternativehealing.org/chinese_herbs_dictionary.htm
Also, a landmark book "Prevention and Treatment of Carcinoma in Traditional Chinese Medicine" by DR Jia Kun
I buy most of the Chinese herbs in bulk from Dr Kang's Asia naturals at 7th and townsend in sf. others can be had on line at a much greater price.
TCM is generally bunk, some people know their stuff like some jungle shamans but thats where it's usefulness ends. It is no more effective than holistic or chiropractors at treating anything serious, aka not at all as placebos don't work for the terminal.
Shaman
2012 Aug 27, 7:11am
I've done a bit of research into chemotherapy and effectiveness of cancer treatments. Two points I'd like to add to the discussion, since I didn't see them mentioned.
1) antigen-based therapies and monoclonal antibodies.
These are the new way of treating cancer that uses the patients own immune system to eliminate the cancer. They've had a few trials and have worked their way into the current medical usage, after a decade or so of suppression by pharma companies selling poisons under the label of "chemotherapy."
Unlike said poisons, they aren't innately harmful to the patient, and IMHO are the best first step that "does no harm." These alone may not effect an entire cure, but will buy time without jeopardizing the Health of the patient.
2)mind-body therapies: this one is more "out there" but has massive potential for not only explaining cancer's occurrence but giving the patient a means to cure it. It was noted in a study a few years back that of those patients who experienced "miraculous cancer cures," coming back from stage three or four cancer and going into long term remission, there was an unexpected commonality: they nearly all had made significant life changes, usually with a spiritual component. Whether it was daily prayer or yoga and meditation, the survivors had turned their focus toward inner peace.
The theory goes that repressed anger and resentment in ones life can cause the subconscious (which has its fingers on the controls of the body) to sacrifice health for a distraction from a perceived threat that is even greater to the conscious mind. You would never consciously choose to give yourself a backache, an ulcer, or migraine headaches, but your heart (colloquial word for subconscious) may choose that option. If the anger goes on long enough without relief or being addressed, more serious symptoms may be produced such as fibromyalgia or cancer.
The idea is that the health of our bodies is a reflection of our psychological health. As a mechanism for explaining the unexplainable ailments of our hectic new millennium, it's one that deserves contemplation.
Interestingly, this also correlates with a study of the effectiveness of prayer for cancer patients. People praying FOR the patient had no effect. But the patient praying had a measurable effect.
elliemae
2012 Aug 27, 10:58am
A huge issue with medicine is that people believe in cause & effect.
If a person has cancer, receives chemo, then dies - people tend to blame the chemo. Chemo/radiation often work. They also often don't.
There is no vast conspiracy - yes, research equals dollars. But the same research also brings results, and sometimes cures.
Discussions: 0
You didn't post the information. Who is the billionare owner of this medical supply company that killed your mother. I'm really curious now.
Still waiting for the name of the company and company owner who killed your mother. With such a huge lawsuit there must be a lot of information about this to look at. You do have a name don't you?
5 star (I've never seen a rating system for doctors, please share where you can look this up) rated
I have no idea what the hell you are talking about or what you are trying to accomplish but I am ending this here. Based on given general practice standards their records etc., etc. etc. we made the most informed decision we could and based on that I could say they were IOHO considered "SO-CALLLED" "FIVE STAR" not meaning a literal rated fucking chart like a restaurant chart.
I am not about to be baited on a personal issue either, for Christ's sake, you don't know the details of our situation and I am not about to provide them in a public forum and for sake of keeping it general I am certainly not about to mention names. You have attacked me personally both my situation and how it was handled by our family (for the general little I have provided) and you know nothing about it in detail. You appear to want to justify yourself and the medical system and that is your right but not at my expense, while you sadly try to attempt to bait me on a family matter I am simply not falling for it.
My family and I suffered enough emotionally and financially and lost a family member so just respect that and please just let it go. I am here to discuss real estate not medical issues anyway and this is very personal to OUR situation. I am sure others have had similar situations and experiences while others entirely different experiences and if they were disappointed or pleased either way sobeit it is all relevant to individual cases I only speak of and from our personal experience over a very long time.
I am sure we will hear from you again because your type have to have the last word. I will not be responding but I'll give you my version of realm of "hard to believe" that is that anyone would be so arrogant and presumptuous to jump all over someone's personal situation and make such ignorant off the cuff statements without full knowledge of the situation.
You do have a name don't you?
It's still under appeal. What's your email address?
Court records are public so you can give out the names in a public forum. Besides you said the company was paying. You don't pay under appeal. Why is your screen name changing?
I am here to discuss real estate not medical issues anyway and this is very personal to OUR situation.
Whoa jack. You posted your situation and your medical issues in detail on a public forum, not me. If you want to do that as a justification for saying the entire medical system of the US exists as a money extraction machine, which is exactly what you did then don't bitch if anyone challenges that assertion.
The previous post wasn't terribly clear. I'm not challenging your experience. I'm challenging your assertions, conclusions, and perceptions based on your experience. You can't have it both ways. If you want to throw out broad based indictments of the system then you can;t say your conclusions are personal and private no one can discuss them. Your experience is personal and private (and was not at all necessary to be included in the first place) not what you have concluded about it.
I have never attacked you or your family personally. I'm not baiting anyone, you are the one throwing out all the bold rhetoric not me.
Where am I going with this? In my opinion the US system has pretty good medical care, with a terrible financial model and access. If you want to say that US medicine only exists as a "money milking machine" and that everything done only makes things worse then I disagree strongly.
The rest of the first world and quite a lot of the non first world uses a public health system. There is no incentive to "milk" and a strong incentive to cut costs. Doctors are paid straight salary, administrators are on a strict budget. Yet they use the same procedures, medicine, equipment, etc. ,etc.,etc. as the US and get pretty close to the same results, So why would medicine be practiced everywhere else in the same way as the US if your assertion that US medicine is only a "money machine" is correct? Doesn't make much sense.
Don't bother to hand me the crap about public systems rationing either. I've lived in France, Canada, Australia, and NZ. Medicine is practiced pretty much the same all over. You might have to wait for minor procedures in some of the public systems, but you will get them. Docs travel from country to country with no problem at all other than knowing the language. I've been doing some part time medical recruitment for NZ and Oz the last couple years. I spend a lot of time talking to docs around the world, so I know this to be a fact.
elliemae
2012 Aug 28, 11:53am
Unfortunately people look for absolute reasons why a relative died and/or has an adverse reaction to a medication.
Shit happens, people die. I can't even begin to count the number of patients who are receiving hospice care and the family isn't ready to accept it. They blame the medications, they blame the lack of aggressive treatment, they blame the doctor - hell, they've even blamed the family dog thinking that he must have infected the patient somehow.
People change hospice providers, believing that the previous one was horrible (when the care was exactly the same). They change doctors, they insist upon different medications that they read about on the interwebs.
People die. Sometimes it's the fault of the medical provider, but often it's because the patient was terminal and no amount of treatment will change that.
JodyChunder
2012 Aug 28, 12:09pm
If you want to say that US medicine only exists as a "money milking machine"
Without hesitation, I would say this about pharmaceutical companies.
JodyChunder
2012 Aug 28, 12:14pm
What a beautiful world it would be if we could base our system on such a cost effective alternative.
Your story is very interesting. Thanks for sharing it. I would love it if you could point to a website or web journal where one might read more extensively about your experiences with alternative/Eastern meds.
heathcare for profit....... an idea whose time has gone.
ironic coming from the snake oil peddler of the thread.
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So I've been watching a bunch of health documentaries on netflix. Specifically about the Gerson therapy and Burzynski.
One doc argues that a lack of "neostatins" (think that's what it is) is what causes cancer - while one says it's all diet.
Both seem to argue that chemo/radiation is more destructive to the body than lifesaving.
Any opinions ?