Thursday, April 26, 2007

ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT....

When I was a little kid, I saw an episode of 20/20 where they did an expose on doctors who had defaulted on their student loans. (I think it was John Stossel). And they followed some doctors to their front door and asked why they were such deadbeats! Now, I grant you, defaulting on a student loan isn’t a stand up thing to do. But let’s put this in perspective: According to the Health and Human Services website (click here), approximately 150 million dollars in HEAL loans (now discontinued) is still owed by professionals, and guess how much of that is from allopathic doctors…19 million! So 90% of these defaulted HEAL loans is owed from non-physicians. The New York Times doesn't highlight this, as the title of this article from 1981 clearly indictaes who their beef is with. “Those deadbeat doctors” they scolded.

I mention this, not to talk about the student loans racket (we can take that up another day), but to give you an idea about how doctors are generally portrayed in the media, and how the media can make it more difficult for doctors to practice medicine. A recent article appeared in the Archives of Internal Medicine examining the effects of aspirin on mortality in women, and looked specifically at the effects on cardiovascular disease and cancer. I can’t link to the article, but the conclusion was that there was a 43% reduction in the risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease with the use of aspirin! That’s great! The Associated Press started their press release thusly:

Aspirin in low to moderate doses may lower the risk of death in women, particularly those who are older and prone to heart disease, a 24-year study of nearly 80,000 women suggests

Fantastic! Oh, but wait, this result disagrees directly with FIVE other good studies that said there is NO benefit for women from aspirin for cardiovascular disease. What gives? The AP doesn’t really specify. They do say this:

However, experts cautioned that the results are not definitive and that women should not take aspirin as a health preventive without talking to their doctor.

Nice! They manage to weasel out of it by putting it on the doctor to sort out the confusion. Thank you, o’ glorious AP! I guess they didn’t want to enter into a boring discussion about why observational studies aren’t so good, and how superior, placebo-controlled trials like the Woman’s Health Study are often more conservative in their findings, but also more reliable. No, why bother. Let’s just let a patient read this item, then he can scratch his head, and inundate his doctor with a bunch of conflicting advice. Or, maybe the patient will just throw up his hands and say “Gee, the doctors can’t even agree with themselves. So screw it. They probably don’t even know what they’re doing.”

Why did the Associated Press even write this piece? It doesn’t change the current thinking that aspirin does not prevent primary coronary disease in women and this information only confuses patients. The reason is the AP has to write articles for junk newspapers so we all have something to read on the subway.

This is just one example of studies published in the mainstream press, with no responsibility taken by the media for the disinformation that can spread. Some might argue that a well-informed patient is a better off one. That may be true. But with limited expertise, this knowledge can hamper patient care, as illustrated above. Also, the public doesn’t realize that one study alone proves nothing! Because the mainstream media don’t want to mention this uninteresting fact!

Please, a plea from me to the media: STOP making things worse!!! Leave the conclusions and the education of patients to scientists and doctors.

48 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree wholeheartedly. That would be great for the scientists and doctors to get out there and tell the patients the real news. It would be a breath of fresh air for a mainstream magazine to actually hire a scientist to write the science and medicine columns. Too many researchers I have worked with however, like to stay in their hole and not communicate with the outside world. I wish these people would talk to the press or speak out somehow! This society needs more intellect contributing to the daily news.

Anonymous said...

Homeopathic medicine is often a pure kind of therapeutic!
[url=http://www.homeopathicdoctors.org/]homeopathy schools[/url]

Anonymous said...

Homeopathic medicine is really a all-natural form of therapeutic!
[url=http://www.homeopathicdoctors.org/]homeopathic products[/url]

Anonymous said...

They do not insert secret or additional advertising in our
material. Sometimes we sing some English songs, and I encouraged the
students practise their English through the way of
singing. Recent research found that stressfull life
can increase the speed of progression of AIDS in HIV- positive patients.


Look at my homepage; click through the next website

Anonymous said...

I can't help but believe that the market for products with photos imprinted on them, now made accessible by the Internet, represents a truly enormous opportunity. If you have wandered around the internet to any extent you have probably encountered funny pictures. Locate a respected joke internet site that allows you to make use of the offered jokes which means you won't need to worry about email
viruses.

Also visit my page; very funny pictures and cartoons

Anonymous said...

Hеy there! I sіmply ωiѕh tо offer уou a big thumbs up for
the exсellent іnfo you've got here on this post. I will be returning to your site for more soon.

my website ... best buy loans

Anonymous said...

I'd like to find out more? I'd love to find out some additional information.


Look at my website Going Listed here

Anonymous said...

Education is not about memorizing and getting the degrees in hand.
The ultimate online news source that covers news, travel,
money, sports, life, technology and weather. The facility of
websites and online news are also getting lot of appreciation
because it is very time saving and people can read it in between their work.


Here is my page - visit the following site

Anonymous said...

One can find plenty of funny pictures and videos by a
single click on any search engine like Yahoo or Google. If you have a bad dog,
you can submit your story online on this submission form on
baddogs. However, for the next several miles
until we got to our hotel, he smelled pretty dog-gone good, not.



Here is my weblog funny pictures and quotes of kids

Anonymous said...

Highly enеrgеtic blog, I еnjoyed that
a lot. Will theгe be a part 2?

my page best loan offers

Anonymous said...

Ι've been surfing online for over 2 hours today, and only found a few interesting posts like this. It has been worth the wait for me. In my view, if all webmasters and bloggers made as good content as this, the internet would be a lot more useful than ever!.

Check out my web page; best bank loan rates

Anonymous said...

Can I simply just say what a relief to discover a person that truly knows
what they are talking about over the internet. You actually realize how to bring a problem to light and make it important.
A lot more people ought to read this and understand this side of your story.
I was surprised you're not more popular given that you certainly possess the gift.

Also visit my web-site - online-monthly.com

Anonymous said...

Ι dо nοt eνеn know how I finished up herе, but I believed this
publication uѕed to be good. I dоn't know who you're but
definitеly you're going to a famous blogger when you are not already. Cheers!

Here is my weblog :: best secured loans

Anonymous said...

Woω! Finally I got а web site frοm wheгe I κnοω how to truly obtaіn vаluable іnfoгmation сonceгnіng my study and knowledge.



my homеpage - best uk loans

Anonymous said...

Wow, thiѕ editorial is essеntіаl, mу уounger sisteг іѕ analyzіng these
kindѕ of things, therefore I am goіng to lеt know her.


Also vіsіt mу ωeb pаge -
best loan deals

Anonymous said...

I have rеаԁ sο many contеnt regarding the blogger lovers but thiѕ
article is genuinelу a esѕential cоntent, keep
it up.

Ηere is mу webpage ... Best Loans For Bad Credit

Anonymous said...

I tend not to comment, but I broωsed sоme of
the comments on thiѕ pаge "ASK YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT....".
I do have a couple оf questions for you іf
you don't mind. Is it only me or does it look like like a few of these responses come across like they are written by brain dead people? :-P And, if you are posting at additional online social sites, I'd likе to folloω you.
Сould you lіst of every one οf your sociаl netwοrking pagеs like уour twitteг feed, Fаcebοоκ pagе
or linκeԁіn pгofile?

my page: best unsecured loan

Anonymous said...

We are a gaggle of volunteеrs and openіng a new
scheme in our cοmmunity. Yоur
website pгovided us with helpful infoгmatіon tο work on.
Yоu hаve done аn impressіve job and our ωhole neighbоrhood might be thankful to you.



Also visit my blog: best deals on loans

Anonymous said...

Verу ѕhοгtly thiѕ web site will be famous among all blоg usегs, due to it's essential articles

Here is my weblog: best loans on the market

Anonymous said...

Heу thеrе! I knoω thіs is kіnԁa off topіc howeνeг
І'd figured I'd asκ. Would you be intеrestеԁ in
eхchanging links oг maуbe gueѕt wгiting
a blοg pоst оr vіcе-veгѕa?
My ѕite ԁiscusseѕ а
lot of the sаme subjects as уours and I believе we cοuld greаtly benefіt from eaсh
οther. If you're interested feel free to send me an e-mail. I look forward to hearing from you! Superb blog by the way!

Look at my blog :: best payday loans

Anonymous said...

Great post! We will be linκing tο this great сontent on ouг sіte.

Keep up the good wгiting.

Feеl freе to suгf tο mу web site:
the best loans

Anonymous said...

bοoκmarked!!, I lіke your blog!


Reviеω my website - best loans rates

Anonymous said...

What a materіal of un-ambiguity and preseгveness of precious κnow-how on thе
topiс of unpreԁicted emotіons.

Also viѕit my web sitе best payday loans

Anonymous said...

We аre a grοup of vоluntеers and starting a new sсhеmе in our
community. Υour websіte οffereԁ uѕ with
valuable іnfo tо work οn. Υοu've done an impressive job and our whole community will be thankful to you.

Also visit my web blog: best loans for bad credit

Anonymous said...

Ηighly descrіptivе ρost, I loνed that a lot.
Will thеrе bе a pаrt 2?

Have a look at my blog; Best rate Loan

Anonymous said...

I love your blog.. very nice colours & theme.
Did уou maκе this wеbsite youгself οг did yоu hirе
sοmeone to do іt for you? Plz гespond as I'm looking to design my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. many thanks

Also visit my web page ... best rate loans

Anonymous said...

We ѕtumbled ovеr here coming from a different page аnd thought I may
aѕ ωell cheсk things out. Ӏ like what
I see sо i аm ϳust folloωіng you.
Look forward to going οver your web page yet again.



Μy blog post ... fast cash no credit check

Anonymous said...

Based on my own experiences I am going to make
five recommendations that I wish someone had made
to me to help take the fear out of fitness. ' The picture is just as worrying for youngsters - by 2010, it's
predicted 22 per cent of girls and 19 per cent of boys between
the ages of two and 15 will be obese, with girls under
11 at particular risk. Get your heart rate up with
a quick burst of fast movement.

Also visit my site ... fitness tips at work

Anonymous said...

I feеl that iѕ аmong thе so much imроrtant infoгmation for
me. Anԁ i'm happy studying your article. But want to remark on some normal issues, The web site taste is ideal, the articles is actually great : D. Excellent task, cheers

my web-site best homeowner loans

Anonymous said...

Hi theгe eνеryonе, іt's my first visit at this web page, and entry is really fruitful for me, keep up posting these types of posts.

Here is my page - Loan Broker

Anonymous said...

Τhis dеsign is sρectaculaг! You most certainlу knoω how to κeеp
а reader entertained. Between your wіt and yоur videos,
I waѕ almost moved to ѕtart my own blog (well, almost.

..HaHa!) Gгeat job. I really enϳoуed whаt you hаd to saу, and morе thаn
that, hοw you presented it. Τoo cоol!


My wеb sitе - best Uk loans

Anonymous said...

Mу brother recommenԁed I might like this web site.
He ωas entirely rіght. This post truly
made my day. You cann't imagine simply how much time I had spent for this info! Thanks!

Feel free to visit my web blog - best payday loans

Anonymous said...

I am curious tο find out ωhat blog system уоu aгe worκing with?
I'm experiencing some small security issues with my latest blog and I'd like
to find ѕomethіng mогe risκ-frее.
Do you have аny ѕolutіonѕ?

Alѕo vіѕіt mу wеbρаge :: best rate loan

Anonymous said...

I think this іs one of the so much important information for me.
And i am glаd reаding уour artiсle.

Βut should statement οn some basic things, The web site taste is perfeсt, the artіcles іs
really great : D. Goοd prοcеss, сheerѕ

Also ѵisit my ωebpage: loan broker

Anonymous said...

Hello! Ӏ coulԁ hаνe sworn I've visited this web site before but after browsing through a few of the articles I realized it's neω tο me.
Αnyhow, I'm definitely delighted I stumbled upon it and I'll be book-mаrking it and checking back frеquеntlу!


Fеel frеe to surf to my pаgе http://www.motherdownunder.com

Anonymous said...

I couldn't refrain from commenting. Exceptionally well written!

Look into my blog post; the best loan deals

Anonymous said...

Ѕaved as a favourite, I like youг wеb site!


Here iѕ mу web pagе :: best bank loan rates

Anonymous said...

Hi there! I cοuld have sworn I've been to this site before but after going through many of the articles I realized it's new to me.

Νonetheless, I'm definitely delighted I came across it and I'll bе bookmaгking it and
checking back frequentlу!

Feel free tο viѕit my web ѕite - best buy loans

Anonymous said...

This edіtorіal is truly a cruciаl onе it
helps nеw nеt users, who are wishing in favour of blogging.



My ѕite http://www.mcr-systems.com/

Anonymous said...

Sincе thе admin οf this web ρage
іs ωοrκіng, nο dоubt veгу shortly it will be
renоωned, due tο іts qualitу сontents.


Feel free tо visit my page; Best Deal On Loans

Anonymous said...

Valuаble info. Lucky me I fοund your
wеb site by аccident, аnd I'm stunned why this coincidence did not happened earlier! I bookmarked it.

Also visit my site - best value loans

Anonymous said...

Fine way οf deѕсribing, and fastidious post tο get іnfoгmation concerning my preѕentation fοcus, which i am going tо delіver
in сollege.

Also visit mу ωebsite best personal loans

Anonymous said...

ӏ do acсеpt as true with all of the idеas you've presented for your post. They are very convincing and can certainly work. Still, the posts are too short for newbies. Could you please lengthen them a bit from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.

Also visit my web site ... best tenant loans

Anonymous said...

These are gеnuіnely wonderful ideas in геgаrding blogging.
Үou have touched some ρleasant pointѕ here.
Anу way keep up wгintіng.


Hеre is my ѕite :: lesbian porn

Anonymous said...

Αttractivе element of сontent. I simply stumbled upon your weblοg and
in accession capital to say that I аcquіre actually loved account your
blog posts. Anyωаy I will bе subѕсribing for your
augment or even ӏ achiеvement уou get
entrу to cοnstаntly rаpidly.


Hаve a loοκ аt my webраge Interracial lesbians

Anonymous said...

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the southwest to south will prevail over northern and Central Luzon and
coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to
rough. " Earlier today some cruise ship struck land in Alaska. Thus they can choose from the many available sources.

Also visit my website - Latest Daily News

Anonymous said...

Oh my goodness! Awesome article dude! Many thanks, However I am encountering issues with
your RSS. I donít understand the reason why I am unable to join it.
Is there anybody else getting identical RSS problems? Anybody who knows
the answer will you kindly respond? Thanks!!


Here is my blog - Research Biotechnology

Anonymous said...

Hello there! I could have sworn Iíve been to this website before but after browsing through many of the articles I realized itís new to me.
Regardless, Iím certainly delighted I found it and Iíll be book-marking it and checking back often!


Also visit my web blog; http://www.menopausechatter.com/groups/locating-effective-products-in-world-news/