| Before we embark on a debate about healthcare | | | | claiming their products "cure" a particular disease |
| it might be useful to define, first of all, what do | | | | when in fact they do. The FDA just hasn't |
| we actually mean by the use of this word. If we | | | | approved them and they probably cannot afford |
| look at the words "health" and "care" one would | | | | the FDA's fees. |
| assume healthcare would mean, "taking care of | | | | If we take a look at the second biggest player in |
| our health" but is that what is means in the United | | | | the healthcare industry, the insurance companies, |
| States? Does the system we have developed | | | | you would think they would have a vested |
| here really allow us to take care of our health? Or | | | | interest in keeping everyone healthy. Until |
| does it wait until we get sick and then try and | | | | recently, preventive care was not even an |
| treat the ailment instead of the disease? Or, even | | | | expense the insurance industry was prepared to |
| worse, is it really only treating the symptoms of | | | | pay for. On further reflection, however, a healthy |
| the disease and not deal with the actual cause? | | | | population might also not be in the interest of the |
| In our overly capitalist society, all we have to do | | | | insurance industry. If we had less fear of getting |
| is take a look at where the money is to get an | | | | sick and had a complete solution working towards |
| accurate answer to this question. Wealth and | | | | this goal, maybe people would give second |
| money means power in the United States | | | | thoughts about having an expensive insurance |
| including influence over the all-important political | | | | policy. Everyone would spend their insurance |
| decisions that mold our society. It is no surprise | | | | money on preventive medicine and only have |
| that the power and the money in healthcare rests | | | | insurance for catastrophic incidents. |
| in two places - the drug companies and the | | | | Which brings me to the real alternative to |
| insurance companies. How do these two lobbies | | | | "healthcare" in the United States. Let's call it |
| view the subject of taking care of our health? | | | | "wellnesscare". It is sure we need healthcare |
| As far as the drug companies are concerned, I | | | | reform but trying to fix the current system that |
| think it is very clear they have no interest in a | | | | treats the symptoms not the cause is like |
| healthy and vibrant population. If we were all | | | | chopping someone's head off because they have |
| healthy, wouldn't they go out of business? This is | | | | a headache. The prudent thing to do would be to |
| the main reason the drug industry spends billions | | | | find what is causing the headache! If we had as |
| of dollars every year inventing drugs that treat | | | | many wellness care centers as we do hospitals, |
| the symptoms and not the cause. As long as | | | | we would probably need less hospitals. Wellness |
| they can keep you sick, they can continue to | | | | education at schools and colleges would prepare |
| prescribe drugs that treat the symptoms. No | | | | future generations to avoid illnesses instead of |
| sickness, no drugs! In fact some people have a | | | | trying to fight them. Forcing fast food chains to |
| theory that they invent drugs that treat the one | | | | disclose all the illnesses that might develop by |
| symptom just to create another symptom - just | | | | relying on their foods for our nutrition would put |
| to sell you yet another drug! If you think that is | | | | pressure on them to improve their menus. |
| far fetched, then talk to friend of mine that is | | | | Let's start reform by thinking first how we can |
| taking fourteen prescription drugs, twelve of | | | | stay healthy. Don't let the FDA dictate what the |
| which are treating symptoms caused by the | | | | naturopathic preventive industry can and cannot |
| other two. | | | | say. Create a new government agency to |
| To make matters worse, the drug companies are | | | | promote wellness and let them compete with the |
| regulated by a government agency (the FDA) | | | | FDA. Call it the FWA (Federal Wellness Agency). |
| that is there to "protect" the consumer. This | | | | Allow it to increase the funding into natural cures |
| "protection" includes keeping you sick so their | | | | that may prevent illnesses and/or cure them. I |
| industry, which pays their salaries, can continue to | | | | am a strong believer for every illness that ever |
| sell you drugs that don't make you healthy. The | | | | emerges, somewhere on this planet there is a |
| preventive care industry, which is addressed | | | | cure. Some people claim to have found natural |
| below, is not part of the FDA's mandate and | | | | solutions to major diseases; ones that do not |
| even if they developed a cure for any particular | | | | create more side effects than the disease itself. |
| disease they are prohibited by law from making | | | | But we cannot talk about them. |
| such claims without the approval of the FDA. | | | | A perfect example is an interview that Dr. Joe |
| Sounds very much like the perfect setup for | | | | McCord, a four-time nominee for a Nobel Prize, |
| "revolving doors". | | | | gives to a journalist from ABC TV about a new, |
| Even in the FDA's own publications they talk | | | | natural, leading-edge product, which has been |
| about providing solutions for people that are | | | | introduced and has shown some prevention and |
| already sick. Here is an excerpt from the FDA | | | | curing qualities of many our major diseases |
| Strategic Plan published in 2007: | | | | through tests on animals. Towards the end of this |
| "For example, better methods for selecting | | | | interview he states: "We make no claims about |
| patients and assessing their responses during a | | | | curing any diseases or preventing any diseases. |
| clinical trial can translate directly to better | | | | We hope when enough studies are done, perhaps |
| methods of diagnosing and monitoring patients in | | | | such claims will be able to be made in the future". |
| the clinic, and better methods for targeting | | | | Many people have discovered the cancer-curing |
| treatments to the patients who are most likely to | | | | properties of this product, including my wife, but |
| benefit. Such tools will help bring individualized | | | | the FDA prevents this being openly publicized |
| medicine into the physician's office, to help shape | | | | without Dr. McCord's disclaimer. |
| the medical practice of the future." | | | | Let's make these types of cures mainstream and |
| My understanding of the English language regarding | | | | an important cornerstone of a new wellness care |
| the word "healthcare" would interpret it as "taking | | | | policy, not keep them on the fringes of the |
| care of your health" or in other words make sure | | | | healthcare debate. Get a policy in place that |
| you are healthy and prevent you from getting | | | | challenges the drug companies and the insurance |
| sick. This would mean that "healthcare" would be | | | | companies and puts them on the defensive. This |
| synonymous with "wellness care" and not "illness | | | | will be the only way to get healthcare away from |
| care". There is a preventive care or wellness | | | | the politicians and CEO's and into the hands of the |
| industry but it is small, fragmented and rogue. In | | | | people. |
| fact some people have been thrown into jail | | | | |