Until yesterday, a friend of mine constantly chastised me for being disillusioned with the U.S. health care system. “We’re the best in the world,” he said. “You turn people off by being so negative. Doctors are only human.” One of my concerns now has come to roost on his own doorstep.
One of his doctors ordered an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan that didn’t identify his problem. Medicaid sent my friend a bill for $5000. Further testing detected a hernia, for which he underwent surgery yesterday. I’m sure there will be a deductible to add to the MRI bill and the debt from another surgery last year. And he’s expected to pay this with his disability check.
What is the reason for all this expense? One problem is that doctors have such little practical knowledge of how the human body works. I had to explain my concerns in explicit detail to the last round of doctors I visited. Some dismissed my concerns and ran expensive tests that came back negative. Some agreed with me and made the proper notations in my charts.
Both groups charged me for my services. Neither had any solutions. My health has improved with protocols I developed through reading and consulting with alternative practitioners.
Honest doctors will tell you they spend more time learning how to administer drugs and run expensive machines than learning about the body. The pharmaceutical industry is responsible for most of the medical and continuing medical education in this country. Expensive drugs and fancy machines are of no use if you don’t know what you may be looking for.
The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) has developed a PharmFree Scorecard that grades medical schools A through F according to the presence and strength of policies that restrict the access of pharmaceutical companies to their medical school campuses and academic medical centers. In 2007, 5 schools received an A, 8 received a B, 23 received a C+, 13 received a C, 8 received a C-, 19 received a D, and 40 received an F.
AMSA also has developed the following voluntary pledge and encourages members to sign up on its website:
I am committed to the practice of medicine in the best interests of patients and to the pursuit of and education that is based on the best available evidence, rather than on advertising or promotion.
I, therefore, pledge to accept no money, gifts, or hospitality from the pharmaceutical industry; to seek unbiased sources of information and not rely on information disseminated by drug companies; and to avoid conflicts of interest in my medical education and practice.
Check the list to find aPharmFree academic medical center near you.
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Jacqueline L. Jones is author of Unmasking a Diagnosis: How to get Help for a Confusing Chronic Illness Without Filing for Bankruptcy. The book is available through Lulu.com and will be available early next year through Amazon.com and other online book retailers.
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