Guest guest Posted July 21, 2003 Report Share Posted July 21, 2003 In a message dated 7/21/2003 10:50:38 AM Pacific Standard Time, drdrdoc writes: How arrogant it is of us then to claim to be the only true medicine. I don't think the criticisms of allopathic medicine made on this list have been with the assumption that ours is the "only true medicine". In fact, I haven't heard those words except in your email. Certainly, my comments were not made in that spirit. The comments were being made about the very obvious issue seen in many areas of allopathic medicine, that of a weighted focus on money over patient care (and by one writer, the subsequent pill pushing). It is fair to state that this is obvious to many as allopathic medicine is the most established and prevalent form of medcine in the western world. It only follows that it would be the medicine that many are most familiar with and, therefore, the focus of comparison when addressing any "alternative". I acknowledge that there are some who take the stance you suggest. However, to openly share criticsm of the cost and practices of our allopathic contemporaries is not to automatically assume superiority in all things. It is an open criticism of what one finds problematic. Taking heed of that which we find troublesome in the established medical paradigm is important. We need to be aware of what we don't want to be as much as what we desire to become. Maya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 21, 2003 Report Share Posted July 21, 2003 Hola, I've been lurking on the sidelines for a while, even though this discussion is one dear to my heart. I am not very adept at typing or expressing myself in this medium, but, here goes. First my $.02 on the question of money. In the Oath of the Chinese Physician (written in the early 1600s) we are told to "treat every patient equally, rich or poor, whether from a family of good reputation or ill..........thus will your practice grow day by day and conscience remain intact" I have been a student of Chines Medicine for slightly over 50 years now. I have a set fee which is in the mid range here in Colorado and have maintained a widely known policy of never turning away a patient for lack of a fee. Every year between one third and half of my time is spent doing pro-bono work at clinics in the inner city, on the reservation, as a volunteer in urban conflicts and war zones, and in the third world. (BTW always looking for volunteers for these projects) In my way of thinking there are only two paradigms that exist in medicine and these are not separated into Allopathic and TCM or Homeopathic etc.. The two paradigms are the one which places the patient in the center of the picture and the one that places anything else in the center. Anything else that replaces the patient is -IMO- wrong. It does not matter if the replacement is money, politics, prestige, the state, ..... it is the first step on a destructive path. This segues into the false dichotomy. Some folks seem to believe that our form of medicine has THE ANSWER. Hmmm if that is true why are there still sick and injured folks who can not be helped to complete health? If we take all forms of healing Allopathic, Chiropractic, Osteopathic, Homeopathic, TCM, Japanese Acupuncture & Kanpo, Worsleys 5 element practices, Traditional Native American Wisasca Wakan, Euro-based -so called Western- Herbalism, etc. and culled the best from each we still do not have the tools or the knowledge to heal all of the ills of our planetary family. How arrogant it is of us then to claim to be the only true medicine. Yes there are excesses and mistreatment in Allopathic Medicine but i have seen the same in TCM, and it all grows out of the same original paradigm shift brought about by love of money or prestige or in any other way replacing the patient's sacred place in the center of our picture with anything else. My first teacher used to say that if you think you know *the answer* you probably did not understand the question. Somos la misma familia, "Doc" Rosen BTWYes it is true that during the Doctors strikes in NYC, SF and in Israel the death rate went down slightly. but this is not quite the reality that an overly simplistic mind paints. It was due to many factors such as delayed surgeries and was often a trade off for increased deformity and long term suffering in other ways. (although i must admit to delighting in using this very statistic myself on occasion. ;-> ) True security nust be rooted in true and complete social, economic and environmental justice for everyone everywhere with no exceptions. Anything else is an illusion. SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2003 Report Share Posted July 22, 2003 Hmmm if that is true why are there still sick and injured folks who can not be helped to complete health? If we take all forms of healing Allopathic, Chiropractic, Osteopathic, Homeopathic, TCM, Japanese Acupuncture & Kanpo, Worsleys 5 element practices, Traditional Native American Wisasca Wakan, Euro-based -so called Western- Herbalism, etc. and culled the best from each we still do not have the tools or the knowledge to heal all of the ills of our planetary family. How arrogant it is of us then to claim to be the only true medicine. Yes there are excesses and mistreatment in Allopathic Medicine but i have seen the same in TCM, and it all grows out of the same original paradigm shift brought about by love of money or prestige or in any other way replacing the patient's sacred place in the center of our picture with anything else. >>>>>>Its hard to get this through to people Alon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 22, 2003 Report Share Posted July 22, 2003 Hey Maya! Hear, Hear! Personally, I would love to see the true advent of Complimentary Medicine. Besides, we all know that Western Med. is excellent at triage....and bloodtests! One of my Chinese instructors is in love with bloodtests....I think mostly because they support his findings!! ;-) Kit At 02:37 PM 7/21/03 -0400, you wrote: > > In a message dated 7/21/2003 10:50:38 AM Pacific Standard Time, > drdrdoc writes: > > >> >> How arrogant it is of us then to claim to be the only true medicine. > > > > > I don't think the criticisms of allopathic medicine made on this list have > been with the assumption that ours is the " only true medicine " . In fact, I > haven't heard those words except in your email. Certainly, my comments were > not made in that spirit. The comments were being made about the very obvious > issue seen in many areas of allopathic medicine, that of a weighted focus on > money over patient care (and by one writer, the subsequent pill pushing). It > is fair to state that this is obvious to many as allopathic medicine is the > most established and prevalent form of medcine in the western world. It only > follows that it would be the medicine that many are most familiar with and, > therefore, the focus of comparison when addressing any " alternative " . > > I acknowledge that there are some who take the stance you suggest. However, > to openly share criticsm of the cost and practices of our allopathic > contemporaries is not to automatically assume superiority in all things. It > is an open criticism of what one finds problematic. Taking heed of that > which we find troublesome in the established medical paradigm is important. > We need to be aware of what we don't want to be as much as what we desire to > become. > > Maya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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