I'm a retired physician/psychiatrist and author of the book, "Stress R Us", a free PDF of which is available online out at Stanford. I whole heartedly agree that medical practice has been controlled by Big Pharma, if we let them. I have never met another psychiatrist who understood how psychotropic meds work on a molecular level or drug interactions (cytochrome P-450, etc.), or the etiologies of "mental illnesses", so, in retirement, I spent 2 yrs. writing "Stress R Us" and Stanford gives it away for free. I treated 25K+ pts. over 42 yrs. and never had a suicide and only the very rare dissatisfied customer. Have a blessed day! Gregg Miklashek, MD
A very interesting and stimulating discussion. From what I have been able to understand, medicine was much more homeopathic until the late 19th and early 20th centuries when the influence of John D. Rockefeller began. He began to introduce petroleum into the production of a new class of medications which brought forth modern pharmaceuticals into production and influenced medical schools into promoting the prescription of these pharmaceuticals by way of funneling his money into building new medical schools, hospitals and funding new "chairs" of various branches of medicine. This began the Allopathic era of medicine which we are very familiar with. Before then, medicine was much more oriented in prevention, nutrition and natural types of therapies and in treating the whole person. Whether Rockefeller did this out of a true sense of trying to help his fellow man or just to enrich himself and gain more influence in society, I don't know but the result speaks for it self.
In a sense , I disagree with Dr. Goldsmith when he says physicians "don't need to believe in a Deity." I believe they would be much more effective for patients and for themselves if they did. They would then believe in absolute truths and morality which they know they could not violate. You could believe in natural law and still theoretically practice ethical medicine, but there is always the danger of moral relativism without Divine law to guide you. Medicine in the U.S. now in general has no moral compass and many of the large organizations promote abortion, sodomy, transgenderism, euthanasia and all manner of evils. Thank God for the development and growth of ethical and moral medical groups which are emerging which reject these evils and practice medicine according to a traditional Judeo-Christian ethos.
We always appreciate your insights and knowledge, @David P.Martinez. I think you and Dr. Goldsmith very much agree on the belief in a higher power. We suspect he was likely attempting to be more inclusive by saying one doesn't have to believe in a "specific" deity -- in other words, if you're an Indian doctor and your faith is guided by Hinduism, you don't necessarily need to believe as we do in YHWH or his son to practice in a selfless manner. But you need to believe in something larger than yourself. The removal of God from the equation is what has made medicine "a soulless technocracy."
I saw an interview with Tucker Carlson which talked about "pharmacy benefit managers" which are part of the health insurance scheme. These companies are involved in pushing and controlling drug prices, and maintaining profitability for the large health insurance companies. It's based on the chronic disease model followed by Pharma, and involves "kickbacks" where money is received for being the middleman in drug pricing and allowances in insurance coverage.
It's a huge piece of the puzzle, explaining the ever escalating cost and futility of the present system.
My ex is a practicing physician who’s been practicing since the early 80’s. Over the years he’s enjoyed teaching young doctors and always welcomed interning them in his practice. Over the last 5 or 6 years, he’s completely quit that because of the appalling lack of medical knowledge they now have (at least from the school these young doctors attend). They have become so indoctrinated into the pharmaceutical solutions to health and show little understanding of an individualized plan of care that it’s difficult for him to break through the indoctrination to mentor them. Personally, when needing a new doctor, I always check to see how long ago they started their practice and gravitate to older, rather than younger doctors. In addition, if a physician’s first response to my visit is to push a pill without discussing lifestyle changes or alternative solutions or if meds are the only treatment but doesn’t discuss the possible side effects, they’re fired. Vet your physicians well, folks!
Totally agree, JudyC! Having said that, don’t always discount someone based on age. I had a young hematologist do some deep dive research and diagnose me with a rare syndrome that an older doctor may have completely dismissed because there were no RCTs, just case studies to support the diagnosis. She was right and I’m now fine thanks to her!!
I'm a retired physician/psychiatrist and author of the book, "Stress R Us", a free PDF of which is available online out at Stanford. I whole heartedly agree that medical practice has been controlled by Big Pharma, if we let them. I have never met another psychiatrist who understood how psychotropic meds work on a molecular level or drug interactions (cytochrome P-450, etc.), or the etiologies of "mental illnesses", so, in retirement, I spent 2 yrs. writing "Stress R Us" and Stanford gives it away for free. I treated 25K+ pts. over 42 yrs. and never had a suicide and only the very rare dissatisfied customer. Have a blessed day! Gregg Miklashek, MD
What great results — thank you for sharing.
A very interesting and stimulating discussion. From what I have been able to understand, medicine was much more homeopathic until the late 19th and early 20th centuries when the influence of John D. Rockefeller began. He began to introduce petroleum into the production of a new class of medications which brought forth modern pharmaceuticals into production and influenced medical schools into promoting the prescription of these pharmaceuticals by way of funneling his money into building new medical schools, hospitals and funding new "chairs" of various branches of medicine. This began the Allopathic era of medicine which we are very familiar with. Before then, medicine was much more oriented in prevention, nutrition and natural types of therapies and in treating the whole person. Whether Rockefeller did this out of a true sense of trying to help his fellow man or just to enrich himself and gain more influence in society, I don't know but the result speaks for it self.
In a sense , I disagree with Dr. Goldsmith when he says physicians "don't need to believe in a Deity." I believe they would be much more effective for patients and for themselves if they did. They would then believe in absolute truths and morality which they know they could not violate. You could believe in natural law and still theoretically practice ethical medicine, but there is always the danger of moral relativism without Divine law to guide you. Medicine in the U.S. now in general has no moral compass and many of the large organizations promote abortion, sodomy, transgenderism, euthanasia and all manner of evils. Thank God for the development and growth of ethical and moral medical groups which are emerging which reject these evils and practice medicine according to a traditional Judeo-Christian ethos.
We always appreciate your insights and knowledge, @David P.Martinez. I think you and Dr. Goldsmith very much agree on the belief in a higher power. We suspect he was likely attempting to be more inclusive by saying one doesn't have to believe in a "specific" deity -- in other words, if you're an Indian doctor and your faith is guided by Hinduism, you don't necessarily need to believe as we do in YHWH or his son to practice in a selfless manner. But you need to believe in something larger than yourself. The removal of God from the equation is what has made medicine "a soulless technocracy."
As for the Rockefeller's influence on medicine, I highly recommend this documentary: https://www.stress.org/product/in-the-shadow-of-flexner/
I saw an interview with Tucker Carlson which talked about "pharmacy benefit managers" which are part of the health insurance scheme. These companies are involved in pushing and controlling drug prices, and maintaining profitability for the large health insurance companies. It's based on the chronic disease model followed by Pharma, and involves "kickbacks" where money is received for being the middleman in drug pricing and allowances in insurance coverage.
It's a huge piece of the puzzle, explaining the ever escalating cost and futility of the present system.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMBCkokxTAk&t=1951s
My ex is a practicing physician who’s been practicing since the early 80’s. Over the years he’s enjoyed teaching young doctors and always welcomed interning them in his practice. Over the last 5 or 6 years, he’s completely quit that because of the appalling lack of medical knowledge they now have (at least from the school these young doctors attend). They have become so indoctrinated into the pharmaceutical solutions to health and show little understanding of an individualized plan of care that it’s difficult for him to break through the indoctrination to mentor them. Personally, when needing a new doctor, I always check to see how long ago they started their practice and gravitate to older, rather than younger doctors. In addition, if a physician’s first response to my visit is to push a pill without discussing lifestyle changes or alternative solutions or if meds are the only treatment but doesn’t discuss the possible side effects, they’re fired. Vet your physicians well, folks!
Totally agree, JudyC! Having said that, don’t always discount someone based on age. I had a young hematologist do some deep dive research and diagnose me with a rare syndrome that an older doctor may have completely dismissed because there were no RCTs, just case studies to support the diagnosis. She was right and I’m now fine thanks to her!!