The Big Conspiracy

Again we are faced with another highly controversial topic.

Dr. Oz.

Yes - some of the information can be helpful to the general public. He promotes natural, sometimes less expensive, and healthy 'remedies' to help control symptoms. He urges people to weigh the pros and cons of any treatment, and to do what is right for a person's own body.

The question is - is he doing more harm than good?

I think that where the problem came in is that he started out as such a respected authority figure in his field, that he now has a vast amount of influence on the public. Basically, television has made him the go-to doctor for health information, and it doesn't matter now whether that information is accurate or accepted in the medical community. And let's not forget that he has made claims that completely contradict previous claims in earlier episodes, but within a short time frame. I realize that medical discoveries are being made daily - (I mean, we know now that blood-letting and prayer cannot cure a woman who is hemorrhaging from giving birth to a baby in distress...) but televising two completely contradicting arguments in a span of a couple weeks is a bit of a red flag.

The bottom line:

This is a television show.

I guess my biggest issue with this entire topic is the conspiracy theories against the medical community and pharmaceutical companies.

Yes. We have all heard the arguments.

But where does the conspiracy begin and where does it end? I read comments every day on how the field of pharmaceuticals is in the business to specifically make more money. I have seen people argue that medical doctors specifically keep people sick in order to make money off of them. So, are you saying that everyone in the medical field that can prescribe medication is part of this conspiracy? Is every medical professional in on it? Are they all being PAID to endorse pharmaceutical medications over natural remedies? I mean, are we talking nurses, doctors, psychiatrists, surgeons, phlebotomists, radiologists, and basically anyone who is employed under the government with a healthcare related profession? Are ALL OF THEM conspiring to make more money by intentionally keeping people sick?

Along that line of questioning, let's bring in the topic of natural medicine. Did you know that because it isn't government regulated or scientifically proven, they can claim ANYTHING as long as they have a disclaimer somewhere in the description? Did you know that they do not have to list all of the ingredients? (Which is one of the reasons why medical doctors suggest not taking prescribed medications and herbal medications at the same time. Without a reliable and complete ingredient list, there could be contraindications that could have catastrophic results). And there is no requirement to prove the remedy effectual... In fact, if you read the following disclaimers from the websites provided, you may notice that the disclaimer completely contradicts the claims made in the descriptions of 'remedies' and the like:

http://www.dragonherbs.com

These statements have not been evaluated by FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
**Keep out of reach of children. Should you have a pre-existing medical condition, please consult your doctor before using these products. Pregnant women should exercise caution when taking herbal supplements. Please consult your doctors.

http://www.doctoroz.com/frequently-asked-questions

Can Dr. Oz Recommend a Specific Brand Name for a Medication, Supplement, Vitamin or Product? Can You Tell Me Where to Buy a Medication, Supplement, Vitamin or Product?

The Dr. Oz Show does not endorse or sell any product that may be featured on the show or website. Dr. Oz does not endorse any brand name or commercial supplier. Always consult with your personal physician or a local pharmacist before purchasing any product or supplement you learn about on Dr. Oz Show. For medical issues, please contact your doctor or other qualified medical professional.

I Need Medical Advice. Can Dr. Oz Help?

Specific medical questions should be directed to your personal physician who can address your medical concerns on an individual basis.

While the content on the site was prepared to provide accurate information regarding topics related to general and specific health issues, this information has been made available with the express understanding that neither ZoCo, Dr. Oz and/or the other experts on the site, the site itself, nor members of the site are dispensing medical advice and do not intend any of this information to be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH AND/OR BEFORE STARTING OR STOPPING ANY TREATMENT OR ACTING UPON INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THE SITE, YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR OWN PHYSICIAN OR HEALTH-CARE PROVIDER.

The other question related to this discussion:

When is it appropriate to seek out medical care if you truly believe that healthcare professionals are intending to keep people ill in order to make money?

There was one specific comment today that I read that was particularly confusing. The commenter shall remain anonymous. This woman went on an entire rant about Big Pharma and the aforementioned 'conspiracy' to keep the public ill for profit gains. She began to describe how all doctors are unreliable and all in it just to make money from people by pushing drugs and Westernized medical interventions. She also makes derogatory remarks about 'pill-popping' people who are just going along like sheep with the big pharmaceutical companies and could be cured of all ailments by refusing Western Medicine as a whole. She has (unfortunately) had a long history of misdiagnoses and issues with her health, which is awful, but puts all of the blame on doctors who are purposely misdiagnosing in order to keep her in the medical system paying big bucks for medications that she did not need. What was even more confounding is when she became very ill at a later date and sought medical attention - saw her doctor for diagnostic tests (bloodwork and imaging specifically).

Now, if it is all a big conspiracy, if all health professionals are in on this money-making business of keeping people sick, why go to a medical doctor for diagnostic tests? Are the tests really that reliable if you truly believe that all healthcare is evil? I mean, wouldn't Big Pharma have to have extensive ties to all labs and radiology clinics as well, in order to skew the results of all diagnostic testing?

And really, if you believe that all pharmaceutical medications are only treating symptoms, have worse side effects, and that a 'cure' through means of Western Medicine is absurd, then wouldn't the opposite be just as absurd? A naturopathic remedy that is a 'cure-all' for lists of auto-immune diseases is just as far-fetched as a Western Medicine 'cure-all' is it not? If our world does not fully understand how an illness works or what it is caused by, then how would anyone know how to cure it completely? Or is Western Medicine keeping it SUCH a secret that the entire world is conspiring to keep it under-wraps?

And wait a second!

What about up here in Canada? The government (in varying levels - provincial, federal, etc...) pays for up to 70% of healthcare in Canada. If the government-funded healthcare programs were part of this worldwide conspiracy to make money off of the sick, wouldn't this be counter-productive?

What I, personally, have found to be the best balance is having doctors who work together. I have naturopathic doctors speaking with my medical doctors and consulting on what the best courses of action are.

Every single person is different and will have a different reaction. The idea of a 'cure-all' is so absolutely insane that I sometimes cannot believe how many incredibly intelligent people are duped into believing that:

1. There is a cure-all but the pharmaceutical companies are keeping it hidden from the public because they won't make any more money after we have all found it out, or

2. That the cure is ONLY available in natural medicine avenues, but the only way it works is by refusing all kinds of Western Medicine - because everything to do with Western Medicine is causing the entire population more harm. And

3. That once the lid is blown off of all prescription medications and the conspiracy to keep us all sick and popping pills, that we will be a utopian society without any illness.

And really, further to that, there is no possible all-inclusive regulation of the sharing of information regarding these topics. You can find out ANYTHING on the internet - really. Information is leaked ALL the TIME! Do you really believe that the government, that the authority figures in EVERY COUNTRY are SO coordinated, that they could keep a medical CURE for debilitating and severe illness under wraps?

I am very much tired of hearing about miracle cures and conspiracies and the evil that is pharmaceutical companies and how we need to go back to stone age times and eat only natural foods...(which is another ineffectual argument since unless you find a part of the world that has been completely untouched by any kind of industrial evolvement, there is no possible way that the natural world of today is exactly the same as it was in the stone age).

From someone who is severely ill, who HAS tried natural remedies in the past, who has gone both the natural and pharmaceutical routes - sorry folks - there is no easy answer.

Some people get better, some people don't. Even the most scientifically proven treatments only claim 99% effectiveness, why? Because every single person is different and presents differently. No case is the exact same.

If someone feels better, no matter what the reason, treatment, activity, or belief, that is great! Do whatever works for you specifically. But that does NOT mean that it will work for someone - or ANYONE - else.

Seriously people.

The Lighter Side of Medicine

Search This Blog

The Big Conspiracy