The Health Jerk

Part Eight:  Believability and Health Industry

Hey it's me the Health Jerk.  And let me apologize for asking all these questions which make you question your government and your family doctor.  Let me apologize for questioning your sheep-like behavior.  And let me apologize for igniting your interest in the overall American Health System so that you force some of these charlatans and pretenders to actually take your health and well being seriously.  Wait a minute, NOT, I don't  apologize.  I hope I have kindled some spark of interest which will lead to your self preservation.

Moving forward.  Part Seven left off with the age old question of 'Who do you believe?'
NO ONE.

OK, if I am suggesting that you believe no one, then how to you evaluate the myriad of options available to you and your family.  The American health care system is enormous, we have already listed out just some of the major players in  Part One of this series  including:

I am going to try to be pleasant here and assume that all of the components of the American Health Care Establishment have good intentions – improving the health of you and your family.  But I must ask some questions...

1.How can you believe the advice of the FDA when time and time again the effectiveness as to purpose of an approved drug is compromised, what I am getting at here, is that the FDA mandate of efficacy has become mute. Furthermore, the FDA mandate of consumer safety seems to be more challenge than the FDA can meet ... Vioxx and many other approved drug recalls during past months.  How can you believe what they recommend?

2.How can you believe your family doctor?  He was educated and trained probably 25 years ago.  How up to date is he or she?  The breadth of medical knowledge is growing exponentially.  No one can keep up.  OK, along comes the specialist.  Now it is up to the family doctor to be the master diagnostician, you know Internist, Dr. House on TV.  It's impossible even for House.  If he cannot diagnose your problem, how can he recommend the correct specialist.  Remember my personal example with my broken neck...

3.How can you believe the specialist?  If you show up with some symptoms which lead to his specialty, then he will act accordingly.  What if the symptoms also lead to another specialty? 

4.How can you believe the recommendations of the Health Insurance Industry.  They are trying to reduce personal health treatment to an assembly line.  There are too many variables.  Personal health is a very personal issue.  The costs are escalating out of control.  The co-payments are rapidly approaching what was once the fee for a doctors visit.  The co-payments for prescription drugs are already higher than the total cost of the drugs just years ago.  The use of generic versus brand name has me totally confused.  Can you go to alternative medical specialists like chiropractors and acupuncturists?  How about massage therapists?  Are any dietary supplements included?  Vision?  Hearing?  If an HMO is supposed to cover all aspects of a health system, why are so many things missing?  And so on and so on.  Who do you believe?

5.The claims made by the pharmaceutical companies have become the punch line in many stand up comedy routines.  Either they make outrageous claims which later they must retract or modify OR their claims are so ambiguous with endless conditions and possible side effects that no thinking person would ever waste their time and money on the product. Except when your family doctor recommends it.  Except when your HMO approves it.  Except when the ad on TV, the radio or in the magazine is well written and persuasive.  Who do you believe?

6.That brings us to my favorite, the dietary supplement or nutritional product companies. This section will have its own special part, because, well, who are you going to believe?

Later sheep.