I am going to reference an editorial from the British Medical Journal here because of its thought-provoking content. If it intrigues or enrages you, please read the full text article in BMJ. Opinions, responses welcomed. This could make for a good discussion for all of us to share our opinions and learn something you, or at least view another perspective. Happy reading!
"Preventive medicine makes us miserable"
There are many adages which lead us to believe that preventive medicine is right. "An ounce of prevention..." "A stitch in time..." This all makes it sound plausible. We want to believe in the powers of prevention. An article in BMJ has the editor, Fiona Godlee, reexamining her position and it might make you think about your assessment of your own healthcare management. The author of the article believes that we are overly confident, based on our confidence in preventive measures. Heath states that the more we are exposed to healthcare, the sicker we feel. Since many third world nations can not even afford basic healthcare, this author proposes a tax on preventive pharmaceuticals sold in rich countries to help fund basic healthcare in developing countries. Outrageous? Not really. Most industrialized nations have some type of health insurance coverage available to their citizenry. Poor countries literally lose hundreds of their population each day due to starvation, unsanitary conditions and lack of proper medical care. I always felt guilty as a child, watching TV, when the ads would come on to sponsor a child in an impoverished country for pennies a day. I knew, somehow, 40 years ago, that the balance in the world was not right. I finally did sponsor a child while in college and it was a rewarding experience. I know now that one must investigate the charity, determine what their mission values are and how much of the money donated actually reaches the targeted population, but the sentiments remain strong. Preventive care vs. basic health care, or a financial relationship between both? It doesn't hurt to consider the possibilities...
According to the article, over 2/3 of people in the UK take some type of preventive mediciation. Think of how much money is spent on prevention as opposed to actual health care. Granted that the ads promote prevention; there are big bucks to be earned for decreasing our risks of many health complications.
Again, do the benefits outweigh the risks? This is the same type of debate that has been surrounding mammography for the past several years. The harm could be unnecessary stress, incorrect diagnosis or unwarranted treatment. There are patients who could have lived and died and never known of their cancer. Mammography can have a benefit, however small, and has risk factors, but there is a great deal at stake.
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