I often confuse Down Syndrome with Autism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag.(show it anyway)

Relying on doctors to hand down their wisdom to us is completely the wrong strategy. Question doctors, suspect doctors - trust them as much as you would your mechanic. Sorry, but I don't see why doctors must be put on to a noble pedestal any more than other professions.

They do lots of great work. So do teachers - so do computer programmers. I get pissed when people bow to their unswerving knowledge. Respect science, get medical advice - but make your own decisions.

I respect science- but the medical profession has a culture that is distinct and separate to pure science. For one, it's a client based industry that deals directly with people to provide a service- like your mechanic. For another- I don't trust the medical-big pharma culture that is way too self-serving, incestuous and profit driven.

I was just reading over on Reddit that as of 2002, prescription drug deaths outnumber drug deaths from heroin and cocaine. Who is responsible for pushing that 30th prescription refill of Vicodin®? - why yes- it's those pillars of society - the all knowing oracles of the human body - Doctors.

We definitely can't have people smoking a bit of weed to chill the hell out - but keep coming in for those Valium® refills people. Those new golf clubs aren't cheap.

sorry for the rant

Great video. She is absolutely correct.

>> ^NordlichReiter:

I often confuse Down Syndrome with Autism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism


That's a pretty dramatic confusion, dude.

>> ^dag

"Relying on doctors to hand down their wisdom to us is completely the wrong strategy. Question doctors, suspect doctors - trust them as much as you would your mechanic. Sorry, but I don't see why doctors must be put on to a noble pedestal any more than other professions.
They do lots of great work. So do teachers - so do computer programmers. I get pissed when people bow to their unswerving knowledge. Respect science, get medical advice - but make your own decisions.
"



If you are not caught up on the current research, how are you supposed to make an accurate informed decision regarding your health? That's why people defer to doctors, just like they will to any professional. Allowing the patient to make their own decisions is the cornerstone of any patient doctor relationship, but ignore advice at your own peril. View your doctor as a mechanic only if you value your life as much as you value your car.

"I respect science- but the medical profession has a culture that is distinct and separate to pure science. For one, it's a client based industry that deals directly with people to provide a service- like your mechanic. For another- I don't trust the medical-big pharma culture that is way too self-serving, incestuous and profit driven."



This is where you are completely wrong. First of all, clinical medicine is evidence based. Science is the hand that guides patient care. Many clinicians are also researchers. Secondly, there's been a huge amount of effort to separate medicine from industry. Big pharm are completely forbidden to advertise to medical students, and unlike for pharmacists, "kick-backs" and other perks to influence doctors' prescribing habits are illegal. Any industry ties for researchers must be clearly documented and reported, and conflicts of interests are strictly monitored.


"I was just reading over on Reddit that as of 2002, prescription drug deaths outnumber drug deaths from heroin and cocaine. Who is responsible for pushing that 30th prescription refill of Vicodin®? - why yes- it's those pillars of society - the all knowing oracles of the human body - Doctors.
We definitely can't have people smoking a bit of weed to chill the hell out - but keep coming in for those Valium® refills people. Those new golf clubs aren't cheap."



Lets see just how many things are wrong with this post.

1. Prescription drug deaths outnumber drug deaths

First of all, you even quoted the article wrong. The article says: "as of 2002, prescription drug overdoses have started outnumbering deaths from heroin and cocaine." Obviously overdoses does not equal death. The article does not provide a source for this statistic, and even if this is true, all it means is that prescription drugs are a lot safer than street drugs, considering the number of people on prescription medication far outnumber the hardcore heroin abusers. It also doesn't take into account just how many of those people on prescription medication have serious health issues - a 80 year old with heart failure and multiple co morbidities doesn't have a good prognosis in the first place.



2. Doctors pushing unnecessary Vicodin.

This is incredibly unlikely, since the doctor gets nothing from the drug company in return. In fact, a frustrating portion of any doctor's practice is filtering out drug seeking behaviour. Ask any doctor and they can tell you the ridiculous excuses they've heard.

Also, the article you linked is about celebrities. You can't judge the medical profession based on a small subset based in LA. Seriously, you think Michael Jackson will say "you're right doc, I shouldn't be using all these prescription meds to help me perform" or "Screw you doc. I can find someone else who will give me what I want"?

3. Blaming the medical profession for marijuana laws:

Right, lets ignore the complicated political issues re: America's war on drugs, and blame it on doctors instead. Let's just say that medicinal marijuana is one of the few ways that you CAN smoke pot legally.

It's pretty clear that you are heavily biased in your view of the medical profession. You use phrases like "self-serving, incestuous and profit driven", sarcastically referr to doctors as "oracles" or "pillars of society", and insinuate that doctors would compromise your health for a set of new golf clubs. I don't know what horrible experiences you've had in your past that has made you feel this way, but this is as far from the truth as possible.

Your distrust of the profession is bathed in ignorance, and your blind accusations, including your previous rant against obstetricians, is incredibly condescending and insulting.

Damn boy... You got served.>> ^dag:

Relying on doctors to hand down their wisdom to us is completely the wrong strategy. ...