Iatrogenesis in mainstream medicine versus iatrogenesis in alternative medicine
Iatrogenesis means “to bring forth (by a healer)” and generically refer to both positive and negative effects. In practise, the term is used almost exclusively in the negative context and I shall use it thus henceforth.
Consider that Iatrogenesis is the third highest cause of death in the USA. That is, deaths resulting from mainstream medical misadventure, misdiagnosis and mistreatment.
Mainstream medical treatment often kills people who would otherwise have lived if they remained untreated.
Don’t believe it?
Studies including substantial statistical analysis have shown this to be the case.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iatrogenesis
“Based on these figures, 225,000 deaths per year constitutes the third leading cause of death in the United States, after deaths from heart disease and cancer. Also, there is a wide margin between these numbers of deaths and the next leading cause of death (cerebrovascular disease).”
I suggest based on this information, that when a person does not have a pre-existing life-threatening illness, it is quite likely that person could acquire one through excessive exposure to the mainstream medical system.
Of course everyone is entitled to place their 100% belief and confidence in conventional medicine, even if the statistics show that is a dangerous thing to do.
I cannot compare the relative likelihood of Iatrogenic death in mainstream medicine versus Iatrogenic death in alternative health treatment modalities as I’m not aware of studies regarding the comparative fatality rate of people seeking alternative treatments having been diagnosed with life-threatening illness; of course because those treatments lie outside the mainstream medical field and are not the subject of rigorous statistical analysis.
There is also the fact that many people turn to alternative types of treatment only after becoming very ill either through the ineffectiveness or the direct consequence of mainstream medical treatments, so their likelihood of death is already high.
Some of them do recover regardless, through such alternative treatment approaches as intensive vitamin therapies, concentrated dosages of pure natural essential oils, combined with meditation, gentle exercise and reduction or elimination of environmental stressors.
Is it too radical to suggest that to avoid iatrogenesis, the third leading cause of death, people should stay out of hospitals unless they’re having a baby delivered, require triage or already have a good chance of dying from an existing condition?
Meanwhile, eat a healthy nutritious diet, get good exercise and enjoy life!
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Comments
Dear Lone Wolf,
An excellent point you make.
I absolutely recognise the fact that conventional medicine has saved countless lives, no doubt about that.
I was focussing only on the negative aspect in my posting.
Not acknowledging that obvious reality is an error of omission in my post.
warm regards,
Bradley
Good post. You make some great points that most people do not fully understand.
“Of course everyone is entitled to place their 100% belief and confidence in conventional medicine, even if the statistics show that is a dangerous thing to do.
I cannot compare the relative likelihood of Iatrogenic death in mainstream medicine versus Iatrogenic death in alternative health treatment modalities as I’m not aware of studies regarding the comparative fatality rate of people seeking alternative treatments having been diagnosed with life-threatening illness; of course because those treatments lie outside the mainstream medical field and are not the subject of rigorous statistical analysis.”
I like how you explained that. Very helpful. Thanks.
Conventional medicine (despite all its problems) has saved far more lives than have been harmed by it.
Nothing is perfect, no madder how good you make something it will never be perfect, there will always be negative effects.
Conventional medicine has saved countless lives, CAM (complementary and alternative medicine) has not, conventional medicine goes through a though double blind testing, CAM has gone through little testing, herbal supplements have gone through little testing and what testing has been done has shown that they do not do what is claimed, homeopathy has gone through little testing and it has shown (not so surprisingly) its just water and has no different effect than water, energy medicine (not only misuses the word energy) has gone through little testing.
Conventional medicine, real medicine has saved countless lives and though it has problems is the best there is and encouraging people not to get medical care only causes more people to die from preventable, curable illnesses. Yes it has problems, allot of problems but its benefits have far outweighed its problems.