A step forward should be a look back to a time when there were thousands, if not a million or more GPs looking after patients that they knew instead of the enormous number of anonymous specialists that we now have. People that walk into a doctor's office usually know what's wrong with them. The old docs knew this and partnered with their patients to get them fixed up.
Nowadays, many of the doctors we see display an arrogance when the patient tells them what's wrong.
Yes, this was before insurance 'protocols' were put into place to force doctors to follow a low cost recipe that often just prolongs the pain and mobility of the patient. Working in healthcare billing for over 30 years, I have seen so many changes in these protocols it is scary.
If you get a cancer diagnosis and go to a centralized cancer treatment facility, like MD Anderson, you are put on the protocol train for a rough and often unsuccessful ride.
I have watched so many get beat to death with treatment until they die, with an amazingly profitable outcome for the facility.
I have friends who opted to try alternative approaches who are still my golfing buddies today.
Apparently, like people, all cancers are not alike, which begs the question, then why do these facilities offer the same protocols to different people with different cancers?
Reminds me of when my mother was in the hosp. with terminal cancer and receiving intravenous chemo. (which we knew would just give a little more time) they gave her a mammogram before leaving. If I knew then what I know now, that would have Never happened! We ultimately said "no" to any more chemo.
It is amazing that they try to milk the cow one more time.
I had to get in the face of a hospitalist at St Joseph hospital in Phoenix when he told me he was ordering a cat scan for my dying Dad.
I said I am his healthcare POA and I will not allow it. He said I don't need your permission to do a test, only a procedure.
I am 5'10' and he was around 5'7", I walked right up to him with my face inches from him and said, if you do this test, you are the one who will need a procedure.
right .. on exactly. I am reading comments. I have in "living will" maybe I should update it.. NO CHEMO. PERIOD.. ever. and talk to about the new "targeted" chemo agents. My best friend from childhood. non smoker and VP at Northrup Grumman retired in 2012 just in time to get the news she incurable non small cell carcinoma lung cancer and she died in 2023 after 10 excruciating years from the "new targeted therapies failed stop its metastasis to her bones. I won't any more.. but just read because anyone who has in medicine has a ton of Medical horror stories in cancer.. :) take care.
Hopeful is another way of saying "good luck". I had a lung cancer patient who was put on an immunotherapy treatment (without saying which one) that then developed 5 brain metastases. Scared him so he went for alternative treatment. A number of months later one Radiologist on a chest CT said remarkable reduction and a different Radiologist said impressive reduction of the brain mets. The patient eventually became NED of the brain mets. The book "Cracking Cancer Toolkit" by Jeffrey Dach MD is the best on off-label drugs.
And I know a physician who had multiple myeloma down turn who got immunotherapy at Anderson approx 7-8 yrs ago and is still doing well. Interestingly the treatment was hi-doses of measles vaccine. Also hear similar treatment for bladder cancer using BCG has proven effective.
Had an uncle in end of life care with advanced bone cancer grinding up his spinal column and in excruciating pain, even with major pain meds. My cousin was there near the end and two nurses came in to the room and just kind of hung around, Cuz asked them what they needed, and they informed him they were there to take his dad for an MRI.
He, quite forcefully told them that wasn't going to happen. One of the girls apologized and told him that she was extremely relieved that he stopped them.
Anderson's founding father, Dr. Clark, was probably one of the most patient oriented cancer treating physicians in the world. Those were very dark days for cancer patients when he took the helm where there was little treatment available beyond radiation and surgery. A lot of agro on this site re chemo but it was the development of chemo cocktail there that took some childhood cancer survival rates from 20% to 80%..
I leaving this comment. I worked with the UsToo Prostate cancer group at Andrews (only men of course) and it was about "QUALITY OF LIFE" post treatment which was really the issue all Cancer treatment. As mom.. of course one wants your child to "SURVIVE" but that a long sad story. right?
Yea! My wife was treated with six rounds of chops and then they told me that they wanted to give her another three rounds of chopped to get the last cancer shower, which was all bullshit! It was all another money making scheme! That happened 25 years ago and I’m still as angry as hell and the march goes on to treating patients in the wrong way for cancer!
Having retired from actually Oncology field.. I will answer.. because don't know what they were doing still don't. I wish I could say differently. When I worked for an Oncology and Hematology group who gave the same CHEMO THERAPY (which I oppose.. though are alternative targeted chemo therapies with slow the growth of the Cancer down.
Doctors are supposed to help people get well...not hand them toxic prescriptions, which damage them further. My mother's doctor had her on 17 different prescriptions and wiped out her mind. She was back East and I wasn't there; I had no idea this was occurring.
Perfectly summed up. We relocated to the upstate of SC from our home of 20years in Charleston County. Two years later, I still cannot get on a list of a primary care doctor. Our large Prisma hospital here will review your medical file as they have posted they are accepting new patients. Within a day or so, you are contacted to be informed they are full. It reminded me of the sorority rush process in college, which I had no time for and the concept seemed so out of date. Now, 2yrs later, even if you “score” a primary, you Will be granted a N.P. (Thankful not to need more at this time. We drive “home” to my Mt. Pleasant, SC physicians I’ve seen for 20 years AND they know you. It’s marvelous. Yet it was also a year for cataracts and plenty of Doc’s here, but I chose on recommendation Clemson Eye. The surgeon is great. However, I would NEVER had gone if I knew post covid it was a corporate run operation. While the laser process was incredible, the surgery day was akin to moving pigs to slaughter. The volume moved thru the clinic was shocking. Yet, I chose to be positive, until I was told my follow up meeting was with an Optometrist who was a parter of Clemson. I EXPECTED that my surgeon would see me. No. He is a Surgeon. Now that after meeting my home town Ophthalmologist, (who would have seen me afterwards), that the lense in R eye is underpowered, measured incorrectly and who can I talk to? Not the surgeon…..until 90 days later. Point is: Our medical is a mess as big companies consolidated all small individual practice and I cannot fathom my retirement now, even with the best portable Medicare available. The protocol train is terrifying. Is it better in some EU countries? We are lost.
Ah, I have a couple of thoughts here. On the one hand I do think specialized or even sometimes genetic driven data can be helpful for the patient. What I Don't support is any Government having anything to do with that data, or it being stored anywhere but at my Doctors office and My Home. It is between me and my physician. Know one else.
On another note, I have never understood, people that constantly state that "healthcare is a right." Who say's so. I don't think it's a right. Just because you think it's a right, doesn't make it constitutionally a "right." Now as a society, if we decide to vote for certain policies, then I don't have a problem with that. Problem, we have never got to vote on Healthcare policy. It is always forced on us, by mandate. Many of us already knew from knowing the reality of National Healthcare in other countries that it is an utter FAILURE, in EVERY country that uses it. The only Countries that succeed with a National Healthcare program, are the one's that KEEP the Government at a minimum or not directly involved at all with pricing.
My data is my business. My health is between me and my Doctor. Period.
Agreed. The only "right" we have, which is really a responsibility, is to promote your own health. We have ultimate responsibility for ourselves! That's the missing message in today's modern world.
Absolutely. We are our own advocate or CEO. We may be in the wrong state. We always received excellent care in several other we journeyed and have been grateful until covid.!!!
Governments (in their stricter definition) are not the only organizations that could benefit from more individual personal information. Remember, we have a planet where Corporate (Big Business, Global Enterprises) and Government are in bed with each other, and always have been. Release information into a corporate database and it will find its way into government offices. Release information into a government database and it will find its way into corporate offices. They work together to control the planet in an attempt to keep themselves on top of the pile. And there are other organizations (off planet) senior to them. Achieving a workable degree of freedom and privacy on Earth is a major challenge.
The more top heavy the government involvement, the worse outcomes. Examples Canada n the UK.
Better systems, IMO. Japan, Ireland and Singapore have a two-tier system, were everyone pays into the public Healthcare and everyone gets basic public based Healthcare. Many people under 40 like this. My Son liked this also in Japan and it was mandatory he pay into it, even as a permanent Visa holder. On top of that you have the option to buy a secondary PRIVATE insurance. Government is NOT, involved with this. That is the private market. It helps keeps cost down and there are many different insurance companies competing in this market. In Japan, they require all the various private insurance companies to operate under the same percentages. Meaning one company can't corner the market on the 41-65 yr olds. Also, your not allowed to turn someone down for a precondition.
I wish they would do something similar with Medicare part B&C. Part D you do have some choice.
I flippin hate Medicare and we pay through the nose for it.
Again, what are your criteria? Total cost as a percentage of GDP? The cost to you and your family over a lifetime? Longevity? Infant mortality rates? Wait times? Cancer survival rates? Rates of autism? Rates of mental afflictions? In the end, each society chooses a system that fits their culture. There is a vast difference in culture and medical system between say Sweden and the USA. The question of "which is best" differs in each culture. The proclamation of "failures" as asserted above is unwarranted.
My example is the Nothern counties is the overload from Canucks, coming in huge amounts for Healthcare. Not basis stuff. Serious surgeries. Try getting a doctor's appointment with your Orthopedic doctor that isn't months out, cause when you get to the waiting room, the whole bloody room is full of Canucks, waiting to see your doctor for their hip replacement. Florida gets the Brits. On the other end of the country we have San Diego, which suffers from millions of illegals that use the emergency room as a doctor offices and they suck up billions of dollars of health care, which is picked up by the American taxpayer.
In Japan, you can't even get a Permanent Visa, if you don't have a job lined up before your plane lands in Japan. Only way is if your married to a Japanese citizen. From the 1st pay check to your last paycheck, before you leave that country . Every paycheck you pay a fee for your basis health care. Everyone has skin in the game, as my Pops use to say. Oh, and BTW, you better carry your permanent visa card with you AT ALL TIMES. Anyone in authority can ask you to show it to them. On the train, subway, in a restaurant. You better have it. Or you will be escorted off that train to the nearest police station.
At 12 midnight while riding his bike back to his apartment from a friend's, my Son was hit by a driver that ran a red light. He's lying there bleeding and all Cops cared about was were was my Son's ID. He speaks fluent Japanese BTW. You can't have National Healthcare with millions of people not paying anything into it.
Two points.. those Canadians are customers of a US private care system. Thus this is profit for those companies.
Second, I agree with your statement that a country can't have National Healthcare unless all pay into it.
Illegals are inevitably a challenge for all countries. Even excessive immigration is a problem, as many families bring in their parents, who require health care service that they did not pay into. Each country has to sort this out in a way that meets their budgets and their cultural values. Inevitably, some "haves" do not want to support the "have nots".
Only some states allow Canadians that do not have a green card or permanent residency to buy health insurance. Not all. In my opinion that should be illegal and drives up the cost for Americans and takes needed resources from American citizens. Either get a green card OR stay in your own country, where you VOTED FOR AND SUPPOSSIVLY SUPPORT your own National Healthcare system. Its called living with the consequences of how you vote. That is the only way things will change in Canada or any of these other countries that have National Healthcare, that is NOT serving their citizens needs.
Perhaps, the American taxpayer is tired up picking up the bill for millions upon millions of people, that love to blovate about their wonderful Socialism programs, provided for them essentially by the American taxpayer. Can we say Military and Healthcare.
I have experienced socialized medicine treatment in Europe, a number of times and it wasn’t that bad! But of course, it is not as profitable as the American medical system which rallies against it.
Socialized medicine is great when your relatively healthy. It also great when it's been on the backs of the American taxpayer. We are their escape valve for it's failures and worse cases. Also, the only reason that can have socialism, is because they haven't spent trillions of dollars on defending themselves adequately. The American taxpayer has been footing the bill, for it all.
You really believe, dumping MILLIONS of people onto a health care system without the money to pay for it, makes no difference at all. Perhaps, your physician, could take longer then 5 minutes with you to go over a more comprehensive health care plan, or provide nutrition classes and health classes, if the taxpayer wasn't footing the bill for all the millions that don't pay for health care. Presently, most doctors are incentivized to just hand you a drug, because the insurance companies are NOT going to compensate them for their time, or your non-prescription treatment plan. Or maybe they could see you more then once a year, to monitor that progress.
They are not distinct problems because it is beyond the control of the average person to stop consuming food products which have trace toxins, and there are such a variety of trace toxins in so many food products that it becomes cumulative effect that causes health issues. The food manufacturers are always looking for the cheapest ingredients to maximize their bottom line and a lot of products now have sucralose which is inflammatory and Causes health issues. Just one of many. The one that really bothers me is the treatment for infants, having dehydration, and the electrolyte That is prescribed for reversing the dehydration contain sucralose rather than sugar. But it saves the manufactured lots of money so they go with the cheapest! RFK wants to fix our food system and he is being Character assassinated because of this goal!
This tree that Obama planted (PMI) seems to be a downward spiral of actual patient care and an upward spiraling of costs. This puts the government directly between the patient and the doctor. Basically in a way it made the doctor an employee of the federal government. Once that happened service drastically went down and costs drastically went up, of coarse what else could possibly have happened?
When I was a kid my parents had blue cross blue shield (master health plus) which was very reasonably priced with no co payments and the 4 of us kids including my 2 parents were treated like kings and queens.
Today the healthcare my wife and I get through a major Boston hospital is extremely expensive, huge deductibles, which go year to year. I find some of our coverages max out for the year and at this point I put off having some things fixed until after January 1st because I simply can’t afford it.
This government wastes billions of dollars on wars, sending our money off to other countries for foreigners surgeries, these bogus DEI and Trans policies. Take a look at Senator Kennedy’s speech the other day on some of the reasons the democrats shut down the government, what a disgraceful waste of taxpayer money it is!
What a disgrace, Americans like myself have to limp around in pain everyday, can’t afford to have medical problems fixed, and our government with their gold plated health care plans wastefully send billions and billions of tax payer dollars off to foreign countries, for wars and political policy reasons. Will these socialist ever put Americans first?
This coverage for dental is the same fricken' way. When I maxed out (never happened before) I ended up paying big bucks for a bridge. I had one tooth that cracked under the crown, had to go to a specialist to pull, have a bridge made and the whole thing was outrageously expensive. Specialized work, yes, insurance coverage? For what I pay it should cover more before maxing out! Thanks for letting me vent, James.
As a physician in the trenches for 35 years I too have seen my beloved profession corrupted by corporatism and big pharma. At the same time have observed the deleterious effects of sedentary lives and highly processed foods on the public health. God bless the MAHA effort. God bless you and Dr Jill
Well said. Corporatism including the medical conglomerates run by their CPAs, not by those with superior medical training, and the medical insurers making sure there's a bottleneck on costs. Physicians have been rendered ineffective in the decision making process that is essential in the best interests of the patients.
Yep! Corporate Hospital system has become money machines and they are not rewarding their dedicated medical professionals! Consequently, the quality of healthcare and treatment in hospitals is diminishing!
The prior article re public health is a great setup for thinking through this. That article crystallized my thoughts on the notion of “public health”.
It was like finding a blood sucking tick buried in my scalp for too long and extracting it. Discovery of the true meaning of a term is critical.
What a challenge to try to reform the behemoth with its myriad tendrils sucking the life out of our profession. I marvel at the notion that a beaten down foot soldier may speak to one who has some influence that can have impact.
These are my boots on the ground observations.
Independent practice is almost extinct. As it dies so does independent speech and action by physicians. We are controlled. I have been forced into concierge to keep my independence.
The discriminatory funding structure must be corrected.
And dealing with the EMR/coding morass is another life sucking debacle that has already caused many early retirements.
But of course these issues are not the root problem.
We have been subjected to indoctrination rather than education.
Big pharma has a lock on medical education. We have become their salesmen with little knowledge of the many natural remedies that are still useful, to our great shame. Garlic oil has been used for centuries to treat ear infections. We know nothing about it.
We know little of off label use of generics.
We have become trained seals following health authority guidelines without scrutiny to the great detriment of our patients. More shame.
The history of atrocities committed by health authorities must be taught. They should be regarded with suspicion in accordance with their history.
The disgusting conflict of interest in health authority leadership must be exposed. Fauci has patents on the work his government agency performs. Really? Really?
And his agency is almost certainly responsible for the creation of the Covid virus that killed so many and made billions for big pharma.
Makes my head explode.
The reality of big pharma having criminality as their MO as described by RFK must be taught.
Year one of medical school should include an in depth course on critical thinking. It is sorely lacking.
Independence from health authorities, the insurance industry and big pharma must be taught as a bedrock principle with allegiance to the interests of our patients and principles alone.
And yet we are only at the trunk. The true root is worldview. Marxism is the demon, the driver of the notion that government should control healthcare.
And the cause of this foolish dark thinking is inherently spiritual blindness.
The impact of godless ideology on health is profound. Our profession fails completely in speaking truth about how the LGBTQ lifestyle devastates health and the social fabric.
Our profession is advocating surgical and hormonal destruction of children and killing of the pre-born for God’s sake.
Please focus attention on these atrocities.
The annihilation of the core family unit is a disaster that no healthcare system can cope with. We no longer value children. Our birthrate is non sustainable.
We are importing Islamists who seek to destroy the Christian worldview that is the bedrock of the freedom any effort to improve our health depends upon.
Some may say this political observation is outside the proper purview of physicians. They are wrong. Dead wrong. Physicians should speak loudly regarding any threat to the health of their patients.
Those of us who still have faith must pray. It will take a miracle to reverse the evil tide sweeping over us.
Dr. Malone, I agree completely—thank you (and Dr. Jill) for your service and personal sacrifice. Your commitment, without compensation from your committee work, speaks volumes. A return to true patient-centered medicine, grounded in the doctor–patient relationship, is exactly what we need. The challenge, as your essay makes clear, is not just saying this but figuring out how we get there in the real world of corporatized, data-driven healthcare.
I am hopeful, however not delusional, that the fight against big pharma and big Ag can be won. Little nibbles around the edges of synthetic dyes and ingredients banned in other countries are a good start but I also feel that these are drone type shots against a much bigger and much better funded army that will not go down without a WW3 type battle. I stand firmly behind RFK Jr, recognizing that powerful congressional folks from both sides of the aisle are deeply imbedded with the true villians out there!
I am against it. I heard Trump mention the database and almost fainted. No database, and no precision medicine without precision testing. This is timely for me. I just submitted to genetic testing for cancer, long story behind the decision. Biopsy done by a "punch" hole in my forearm, resulted in one Chk7 gene abnormality which gives me approximately but less than 30% chance of breast cancer (or other issues) and another abnormality so rare the paperwork said "no further testing" unless there is an actual family history, which there is not. The Genetic counselor suggested Annual breast MRIs in addition to mammograms not instead of, and a full body MRI which is not available in my city) and warning all my family to get tested. There is no strong family history of cancer in my family. I started my own research and am working on a document for my family re: "genetic testing pros and cons" In my research I found some really good books by H. Gilbert Welch "Should I be tested for Cancer" "Over-diagnosed: Making People Sick in the Pursuit of Health," and "Less Medicine more health." These are not really current, but his reasoning still relevant today. I learned about him from Independent Medical Alliance. My blood tests for cancer and lymphoma are negative, my blood work (except for lipids) is perfect. I have lost 20 pounds and feel great . Basically following Dr. Mercola's "Your Guide to Cellular Health" and Paul Marik's "Cancer Care" book close at hand. Brain and Body workouts, etc etc, etc, and have started attending church again. Thank you for this post.
I think using the Genetic testing tools, is just that, a tool. I used the information, of my genetic information, to help me with my health outcomes. What I do, is try to eat healthy, exercise daily and have prioritized sleep. I do my due diligence with my exams, and blood work, because as a cancer survivor, I must. Early detection is best. Been cancer free for 14 years. You do the best you can.
Dr. Malone, as you noted, it is the fear of death and disease that drives the current medical industrial complex. Somehow, people have been convinced (or coerced) to pay more and more (higher and higher insurance premiums as well as increasingly onerous copays and co-insurance) because they think that the medical establishment -- aided and abetted by socialist government policies that reward rent seekers -- will save them from death and disease. It won't. But some common sense can increase health and life span.
I like the quote that says something like "If your doctor doesn't ask what you eat or how you sleep then he/she is a drug dealer" I think the sad product of the universities teaching what to think instead of how to think can be seen when doctors with poor diagnostic skills need to use their computers to determine what might be wrong and find a chemical to fix it. DMSO nowhere on their radar. My other beef is PAIN Surely no one should ever be in pain today. Fretting about the possibility of addiction for a dying patient is crazy. My niece rang to say her aunt with terminal cancer rang her and could hardly speak for the pain. She died the next day. We don't allow our pets to be treated like that.
I’m a recently retired hematologist and medical oncologist. Dr Malone’s summary of the evolution of medical practice, in the USA, is spot on. Treatments for fatal diseases, like cancer, have been toxic and often less effective than claimed in the past. Although that remains true, the effectiveness and tolerability of the treatments used has improved (sometimes tremendously), particularly in the past 10-15 years. It can be anticipated that this trend will continue, and probably quicken. These advances have come with a very high price tag, and it is necessary to ask if the cost is worthwhile. When I was in practice, I told myself that it was not my job to determine the value to society, as my duty was to the patient. It was the rare patient who did not opt for expensive therapy, even when told it would be unlikely to be of short-term, let alone long-term, benefit. Obviously, the disconnect between who pays, and who makes treatment decisions is one problem with our current system. I am very familiar with the Canadian and English systems, which deal with the problem of treatment access by limiting therapy to everyone (except for the politically connected, the people who protect the connected, and federal felons in Canada. Assisted suicide is encouraged for those who might cost the system money… understandable when one cannot opt out of the system.). Advances in those countries only occur as a result of being pulled forward by the advances paid for in the USA. Dr Malone correctly points out that a socialist/state run health care system, which defines health as a basic right, will inevitably lead to a Canadian-like situation. Indeed, choosing the correct path forward for our nation will be a difficult and probably imperfect exercise.
In the US healthcare cost went from 10% of GDP to 20% of GDP and The Health of the average American has deteriorated and over 50% have health issues. So the question is why are we going down the wrong path in medicine
when prevention and reversal of disease states should be the focus not the treatment and chronic treatment of disease states!
While you are correct in spirit, the actual numbers show a little less disparity between countries. According to Grok, in 2023, the United States spent 17.5% of GDP on healthcare, Canada spent 12.1%, and the United Kingdom spent 10.9%.
Read my article on Bobby’s Goals. Written a year ago. There is a chart that looks at it from a per capita basis. Actually, sinceall in the US don’t have healthcare coverage, the per capita estimate is low for the USA.
Good comments consistent with my experiences in medical treatment years ago. I only wish that all those in elected positions and appointed bureaucrats were required to buy their medical insurance from the same sources as the general population, especially the Clintons and the Obamas. Let's level the playing field. We just might get positive results.
Thank you for your commentary and life's work in medicine.
I agree about the expensive treatment options. When I was faced with a rare and aggressive cancer, I spent the two weeks after surgery, calling all over the country, trying to find another alternative, other then Chemo. I didn't want to do it. It was stage 1 but very rare and aggressive kind of cancer. I had instinctively had the good sense to remove all the female plumbing. The blood numbers were horrible, but until the actual biopsy, we weren't certain for sure it was cancer. Somehow I knew it was.
I did Chemo only because I read the statistics. 80% of women with this cancer are dead in 2 years. Fourteen years later, while I hated the experience. I'm still here. If I was at a more advanced stage, I would have not done the Chemo.
After my Cancer, I have changed my lifestyle. Eat better, get sunshine and exercise, and really have gotten into "sleep." I didn't realize how little I sleep until the Hubby retired and we started to get some decent sleep.
Excellent Dr. Malone... profound. Yes, to precision medicine... individual by individual and AI might be one of the tools. At the end of the day though we each have to take responsibility for our health and what you eat and your activity levels are absolutely key to health and longevity. There is just no getting around that reality.
Here we go again. Personalized Precision Medicine is a label to sell the new concept for maintaining allopathic control of the medical paradigmn. Richard Nixon in 1971 declared war on cancer and authorized funds for research. We have spent about 180 billion doing cancer research and cancer rates except for lung cancer have grown. Eliminating smoking was the key and not medical intervention. In addition, we don't have a precise cancer reporting system and it is a hodge podge of three forms and what is needed is a uniform national system. Turbocancers have developed because of the injection of RNA. Now we have precison cancer treatment on the cellular level which is extremely expensive. Because of EAU and Prep which President Biden authorized through 2029 allows directed selling of prescription drugs directly to the patient. It by passes community physician and community pharmacist involvement who are the gate keepers to prevent adverse effects from poly pharmacy and etc. It will be run by AI programs which will interpet the reponses of the patient which may not be accurate or significant. It is already being done by Lilly with the GLP1 injections which reduces body weight by depleting muscle mass (2/3 of the effectiveness) which in turn negatively impacts organ function over time especielly heart and eye. Others like the Wellness company are doing the same as well as Ivermectin sellers. Now, we have Pfizer convincing President Trump that the TrumpRX program will save vast amounts of money on prescription drugs by cutting out the role of the drug distributor and the local pharmacy. There will be no change in the bottom line of the drug manufactuers. They will declare a reduction in RX cost because there will be no mark up by the drug distributors and drug retailers which are labor intensive entities. Eliminating the manipulation of drug pricing by the health insurance comapnaies like United Health should be the first step! The global drug companies will continute to derive over 50% of their bottom line by selling their drugs in the USA which is less that 4% of the global population many of which including RNA are of questionable value to the American patient, and polypharmy for seniors will continue unabatted. Eliminateing direct to consumer advertising will reduce costs to the drug manufacturerer and they in turn can lower their prices accordingly without the new approach of keeping direct selling as the future treatment protocol for all health issues. There have been many studies that clearly indicate that over medication, over treatment and the wrong diagnosis are responsible for our bloated expensive healthcare system. That combined with trace toxins in our food supply like dyes contribute to the ill health we are experiencing in the USA. RFK Jr. understands this clearly, and is the reciepient of push back and our politicians are willinginly participating in the push back. Sad state of affairs.
Prevention should be the focus, not more drugs. And NO ONE is talking about integrative medicine, botanical medicine, TCM, Ayurveda, homeopathy, etc. Frustrating.
And the very recent change on blood pressure parameters likely reflects pharma's need for more money and using industry guidelines to grab more with the attempt to get even more on blood pressure meds 🙄
My mother was reared by her aunt and uncle due to unusual circumstances. "Uncle" as she called him was a medical doctor. She said the book, "The Horse and Buggy Doctor" accurately described his career in medicine. 'Progress' does have a way of screwing things up, doesn't it?
A step forward should be a look back to a time when there were thousands, if not a million or more GPs looking after patients that they knew instead of the enormous number of anonymous specialists that we now have. People that walk into a doctor's office usually know what's wrong with them. The old docs knew this and partnered with their patients to get them fixed up.
Nowadays, many of the doctors we see display an arrogance when the patient tells them what's wrong.
Yes, this was before insurance 'protocols' were put into place to force doctors to follow a low cost recipe that often just prolongs the pain and mobility of the patient. Working in healthcare billing for over 30 years, I have seen so many changes in these protocols it is scary.
If you get a cancer diagnosis and go to a centralized cancer treatment facility, like MD Anderson, you are put on the protocol train for a rough and often unsuccessful ride.
I have watched so many get beat to death with treatment until they die, with an amazingly profitable outcome for the facility.
I have friends who opted to try alternative approaches who are still my golfing buddies today.
Apparently, like people, all cancers are not alike, which begs the question, then why do these facilities offer the same protocols to different people with different cancers?
Reminds me of when my mother was in the hosp. with terminal cancer and receiving intravenous chemo. (which we knew would just give a little more time) they gave her a mammogram before leaving. If I knew then what I know now, that would have Never happened! We ultimately said "no" to any more chemo.
It is amazing that they try to milk the cow one more time.
I had to get in the face of a hospitalist at St Joseph hospital in Phoenix when he told me he was ordering a cat scan for my dying Dad.
I said I am his healthcare POA and I will not allow it. He said I don't need your permission to do a test, only a procedure.
I am 5'10' and he was around 5'7", I walked right up to him with my face inches from him and said, if you do this test, you are the one who will need a procedure.
It was not done.
Good on ya!!
right .. on exactly. I am reading comments. I have in "living will" maybe I should update it.. NO CHEMO. PERIOD.. ever. and talk to about the new "targeted" chemo agents. My best friend from childhood. non smoker and VP at Northrup Grumman retired in 2012 just in time to get the news she incurable non small cell carcinoma lung cancer and she died in 2023 after 10 excruciating years from the "new targeted therapies failed stop its metastasis to her bones. I won't any more.. but just read because anyone who has in medicine has a ton of Medical horror stories in cancer.. :) take care.
But a lot of these new "targeted" therapies are immunotherapeutics. They are in my mind the most hopeful treatment options available.
Hopeful is another way of saying "good luck". I had a lung cancer patient who was put on an immunotherapy treatment (without saying which one) that then developed 5 brain metastases. Scared him so he went for alternative treatment. A number of months later one Radiologist on a chest CT said remarkable reduction and a different Radiologist said impressive reduction of the brain mets. The patient eventually became NED of the brain mets. The book "Cracking Cancer Toolkit" by Jeffrey Dach MD is the best on off-label drugs.
And I know a physician who had multiple myeloma down turn who got immunotherapy at Anderson approx 7-8 yrs ago and is still doing well. Interestingly the treatment was hi-doses of measles vaccine. Also hear similar treatment for bladder cancer using BCG has proven effective.
That is so outrageous! Sickening! 🤬
The simple answer is M O N E Y.
A little story:
Had an uncle in end of life care with advanced bone cancer grinding up his spinal column and in excruciating pain, even with major pain meds. My cousin was there near the end and two nurses came in to the room and just kind of hung around, Cuz asked them what they needed, and they informed him they were there to take his dad for an MRI.
He, quite forcefully told them that wasn't going to happen. One of the girls apologized and told him that she was extremely relieved that he stopped them.
Anderson's founding father, Dr. Clark, was probably one of the most patient oriented cancer treating physicians in the world. Those were very dark days for cancer patients when he took the helm where there was little treatment available beyond radiation and surgery. A lot of agro on this site re chemo but it was the development of chemo cocktail there that took some childhood cancer survival rates from 20% to 80%..
I leaving this comment. I worked with the UsToo Prostate cancer group at Andrews (only men of course) and it was about "QUALITY OF LIFE" post treatment which was really the issue all Cancer treatment. As mom.. of course one wants your child to "SURVIVE" but that a long sad story. right?
Yea! My wife was treated with six rounds of chops and then they told me that they wanted to give her another three rounds of chopped to get the last cancer shower, which was all bullshit! It was all another money making scheme! That happened 25 years ago and I’m still as angry as hell and the march goes on to treating patients in the wrong way for cancer!
Having retired from actually Oncology field.. I will answer.. because don't know what they were doing still don't. I wish I could say differently. When I worked for an Oncology and Hematology group who gave the same CHEMO THERAPY (which I oppose.. though are alternative targeted chemo therapies with slow the growth of the Cancer down.
Doctors are supposed to help people get well...not hand them toxic prescriptions, which damage them further. My mother's doctor had her on 17 different prescriptions and wiped out her mind. She was back East and I wasn't there; I had no idea this was occurring.
Perfectly summed up. We relocated to the upstate of SC from our home of 20years in Charleston County. Two years later, I still cannot get on a list of a primary care doctor. Our large Prisma hospital here will review your medical file as they have posted they are accepting new patients. Within a day or so, you are contacted to be informed they are full. It reminded me of the sorority rush process in college, which I had no time for and the concept seemed so out of date. Now, 2yrs later, even if you “score” a primary, you Will be granted a N.P. (Thankful not to need more at this time. We drive “home” to my Mt. Pleasant, SC physicians I’ve seen for 20 years AND they know you. It’s marvelous. Yet it was also a year for cataracts and plenty of Doc’s here, but I chose on recommendation Clemson Eye. The surgeon is great. However, I would NEVER had gone if I knew post covid it was a corporate run operation. While the laser process was incredible, the surgery day was akin to moving pigs to slaughter. The volume moved thru the clinic was shocking. Yet, I chose to be positive, until I was told my follow up meeting was with an Optometrist who was a parter of Clemson. I EXPECTED that my surgeon would see me. No. He is a Surgeon. Now that after meeting my home town Ophthalmologist, (who would have seen me afterwards), that the lense in R eye is underpowered, measured incorrectly and who can I talk to? Not the surgeon…..until 90 days later. Point is: Our medical is a mess as big companies consolidated all small individual practice and I cannot fathom my retirement now, even with the best portable Medicare available. The protocol train is terrifying. Is it better in some EU countries? We are lost.
Ah, I have a couple of thoughts here. On the one hand I do think specialized or even sometimes genetic driven data can be helpful for the patient. What I Don't support is any Government having anything to do with that data, or it being stored anywhere but at my Doctors office and My Home. It is between me and my physician. Know one else.
On another note, I have never understood, people that constantly state that "healthcare is a right." Who say's so. I don't think it's a right. Just because you think it's a right, doesn't make it constitutionally a "right." Now as a society, if we decide to vote for certain policies, then I don't have a problem with that. Problem, we have never got to vote on Healthcare policy. It is always forced on us, by mandate. Many of us already knew from knowing the reality of National Healthcare in other countries that it is an utter FAILURE, in EVERY country that uses it. The only Countries that succeed with a National Healthcare program, are the one's that KEEP the Government at a minimum or not directly involved at all with pricing.
My data is my business. My health is between me and my Doctor. Period.
Agreed. The only "right" we have, which is really a responsibility, is to promote your own health. We have ultimate responsibility for ourselves! That's the missing message in today's modern world.
Absolutely. We are our own advocate or CEO. We may be in the wrong state. We always received excellent care in several other we journeyed and have been grateful until covid.!!!
Governments (in their stricter definition) are not the only organizations that could benefit from more individual personal information. Remember, we have a planet where Corporate (Big Business, Global Enterprises) and Government are in bed with each other, and always have been. Release information into a corporate database and it will find its way into government offices. Release information into a government database and it will find its way into corporate offices. They work together to control the planet in an attempt to keep themselves on top of the pile. And there are other organizations (off planet) senior to them. Achieving a workable degree of freedom and privacy on Earth is a major challenge.
Disagree on your assertion about other countries public healthcare being failures. What is your criteria?
The more top heavy the government involvement, the worse outcomes. Examples Canada n the UK.
Better systems, IMO. Japan, Ireland and Singapore have a two-tier system, were everyone pays into the public Healthcare and everyone gets basic public based Healthcare. Many people under 40 like this. My Son liked this also in Japan and it was mandatory he pay into it, even as a permanent Visa holder. On top of that you have the option to buy a secondary PRIVATE insurance. Government is NOT, involved with this. That is the private market. It helps keeps cost down and there are many different insurance companies competing in this market. In Japan, they require all the various private insurance companies to operate under the same percentages. Meaning one company can't corner the market on the 41-65 yr olds. Also, your not allowed to turn someone down for a precondition.
I wish they would do something similar with Medicare part B&C. Part D you do have some choice.
I flippin hate Medicare and we pay through the nose for it.
Very expensive, if you never use Part A.
Again, what are your criteria? Total cost as a percentage of GDP? The cost to you and your family over a lifetime? Longevity? Infant mortality rates? Wait times? Cancer survival rates? Rates of autism? Rates of mental afflictions? In the end, each society chooses a system that fits their culture. There is a vast difference in culture and medical system between say Sweden and the USA. The question of "which is best" differs in each culture. The proclamation of "failures" as asserted above is unwarranted.
My example is the Nothern counties is the overload from Canucks, coming in huge amounts for Healthcare. Not basis stuff. Serious surgeries. Try getting a doctor's appointment with your Orthopedic doctor that isn't months out, cause when you get to the waiting room, the whole bloody room is full of Canucks, waiting to see your doctor for their hip replacement. Florida gets the Brits. On the other end of the country we have San Diego, which suffers from millions of illegals that use the emergency room as a doctor offices and they suck up billions of dollars of health care, which is picked up by the American taxpayer.
In Japan, you can't even get a Permanent Visa, if you don't have a job lined up before your plane lands in Japan. Only way is if your married to a Japanese citizen. From the 1st pay check to your last paycheck, before you leave that country . Every paycheck you pay a fee for your basis health care. Everyone has skin in the game, as my Pops use to say. Oh, and BTW, you better carry your permanent visa card with you AT ALL TIMES. Anyone in authority can ask you to show it to them. On the train, subway, in a restaurant. You better have it. Or you will be escorted off that train to the nearest police station.
At 12 midnight while riding his bike back to his apartment from a friend's, my Son was hit by a driver that ran a red light. He's lying there bleeding and all Cops cared about was were was my Son's ID. He speaks fluent Japanese BTW. You can't have National Healthcare with millions of people not paying anything into it.
Two points.. those Canadians are customers of a US private care system. Thus this is profit for those companies.
Second, I agree with your statement that a country can't have National Healthcare unless all pay into it.
Illegals are inevitably a challenge for all countries. Even excessive immigration is a problem, as many families bring in their parents, who require health care service that they did not pay into. Each country has to sort this out in a way that meets their budgets and their cultural values. Inevitably, some "haves" do not want to support the "have nots".
Only some states allow Canadians that do not have a green card or permanent residency to buy health insurance. Not all. In my opinion that should be illegal and drives up the cost for Americans and takes needed resources from American citizens. Either get a green card OR stay in your own country, where you VOTED FOR AND SUPPOSSIVLY SUPPORT your own National Healthcare system. Its called living with the consequences of how you vote. That is the only way things will change in Canada or any of these other countries that have National Healthcare, that is NOT serving their citizens needs.
Perhaps, the American taxpayer is tired up picking up the bill for millions upon millions of people, that love to blovate about their wonderful Socialism programs, provided for them essentially by the American taxpayer. Can we say Military and Healthcare.
I have experienced socialized medicine treatment in Europe, a number of times and it wasn’t that bad! But of course, it is not as profitable as the American medical system which rallies against it.
Socialized medicine is great when your relatively healthy. It also great when it's been on the backs of the American taxpayer. We are their escape valve for it's failures and worse cases. Also, the only reason that can have socialism, is because they haven't spent trillions of dollars on defending themselves adequately. The American taxpayer has been footing the bill, for it all.
Our medical system sucks because we don’t want to recognize the the root causes. We are not a healthy nation.!
You really believe, dumping MILLIONS of people onto a health care system without the money to pay for it, makes no difference at all. Perhaps, your physician, could take longer then 5 minutes with you to go over a more comprehensive health care plan, or provide nutrition classes and health classes, if the taxpayer wasn't footing the bill for all the millions that don't pay for health care. Presently, most doctors are incentivized to just hand you a drug, because the insurance companies are NOT going to compensate them for their time, or your non-prescription treatment plan. Or maybe they could see you more then once a year, to monitor that progress.
That's fine. But they are 2 distinctly different problems.
Many people do not understand the root causes, and really may not care very much. Maybe, that's the real problem.
But that is no excuse for not having a Health Care system just processes humans.
They are not distinct problems because it is beyond the control of the average person to stop consuming food products which have trace toxins, and there are such a variety of trace toxins in so many food products that it becomes cumulative effect that causes health issues. The food manufacturers are always looking for the cheapest ingredients to maximize their bottom line and a lot of products now have sucralose which is inflammatory and Causes health issues. Just one of many. The one that really bothers me is the treatment for infants, having dehydration, and the electrolyte That is prescribed for reversing the dehydration contain sucralose rather than sugar. But it saves the manufactured lots of money so they go with the cheapest! RFK wants to fix our food system and he is being Character assassinated because of this goal!
This tree that Obama planted (PMI) seems to be a downward spiral of actual patient care and an upward spiraling of costs. This puts the government directly between the patient and the doctor. Basically in a way it made the doctor an employee of the federal government. Once that happened service drastically went down and costs drastically went up, of coarse what else could possibly have happened?
When I was a kid my parents had blue cross blue shield (master health plus) which was very reasonably priced with no co payments and the 4 of us kids including my 2 parents were treated like kings and queens.
Today the healthcare my wife and I get through a major Boston hospital is extremely expensive, huge deductibles, which go year to year. I find some of our coverages max out for the year and at this point I put off having some things fixed until after January 1st because I simply can’t afford it.
This government wastes billions of dollars on wars, sending our money off to other countries for foreigners surgeries, these bogus DEI and Trans policies. Take a look at Senator Kennedy’s speech the other day on some of the reasons the democrats shut down the government, what a disgraceful waste of taxpayer money it is!
https://www.google.com/search?q=senators+kennedy+speech+of+some+of+why+the+democrats+shut+down+the+government&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:9c67fffe,vid:dxXb2-klvrk,st:0
What a disgrace, Americans like myself have to limp around in pain everyday, can’t afford to have medical problems fixed, and our government with their gold plated health care plans wastefully send billions and billions of tax payer dollars off to foreign countries, for wars and political policy reasons. Will these socialist ever put Americans first?
This coverage for dental is the same fricken' way. When I maxed out (never happened before) I ended up paying big bucks for a bridge. I had one tooth that cracked under the crown, had to go to a specialist to pull, have a bridge made and the whole thing was outrageously expensive. Specialized work, yes, insurance coverage? For what I pay it should cover more before maxing out! Thanks for letting me vent, James.
Well stated!
As a physician in the trenches for 35 years I too have seen my beloved profession corrupted by corporatism and big pharma. At the same time have observed the deleterious effects of sedentary lives and highly processed foods on the public health. God bless the MAHA effort. God bless you and Dr Jill
Well said. Corporatism including the medical conglomerates run by their CPAs, not by those with superior medical training, and the medical insurers making sure there's a bottleneck on costs. Physicians have been rendered ineffective in the decision making process that is essential in the best interests of the patients.
Yep! Corporate Hospital system has become money machines and they are not rewarding their dedicated medical professionals! Consequently, the quality of healthcare and treatment in hospitals is diminishing!
Spot on Doc!
The prior article re public health is a great setup for thinking through this. That article crystallized my thoughts on the notion of “public health”.
It was like finding a blood sucking tick buried in my scalp for too long and extracting it. Discovery of the true meaning of a term is critical.
What a challenge to try to reform the behemoth with its myriad tendrils sucking the life out of our profession. I marvel at the notion that a beaten down foot soldier may speak to one who has some influence that can have impact.
These are my boots on the ground observations.
Independent practice is almost extinct. As it dies so does independent speech and action by physicians. We are controlled. I have been forced into concierge to keep my independence.
The discriminatory funding structure must be corrected.
And dealing with the EMR/coding morass is another life sucking debacle that has already caused many early retirements.
But of course these issues are not the root problem.
We have been subjected to indoctrination rather than education.
Big pharma has a lock on medical education. We have become their salesmen with little knowledge of the many natural remedies that are still useful, to our great shame. Garlic oil has been used for centuries to treat ear infections. We know nothing about it.
We know little of off label use of generics.
We have become trained seals following health authority guidelines without scrutiny to the great detriment of our patients. More shame.
The history of atrocities committed by health authorities must be taught. They should be regarded with suspicion in accordance with their history.
The disgusting conflict of interest in health authority leadership must be exposed. Fauci has patents on the work his government agency performs. Really? Really?
And his agency is almost certainly responsible for the creation of the Covid virus that killed so many and made billions for big pharma.
Makes my head explode.
The reality of big pharma having criminality as their MO as described by RFK must be taught.
Year one of medical school should include an in depth course on critical thinking. It is sorely lacking.
Independence from health authorities, the insurance industry and big pharma must be taught as a bedrock principle with allegiance to the interests of our patients and principles alone.
And yet we are only at the trunk. The true root is worldview. Marxism is the demon, the driver of the notion that government should control healthcare.
And the cause of this foolish dark thinking is inherently spiritual blindness.
The impact of godless ideology on health is profound. Our profession fails completely in speaking truth about how the LGBTQ lifestyle devastates health and the social fabric.
Our profession is advocating surgical and hormonal destruction of children and killing of the pre-born for God’s sake.
Please focus attention on these atrocities.
The annihilation of the core family unit is a disaster that no healthcare system can cope with. We no longer value children. Our birthrate is non sustainable.
We are importing Islamists who seek to destroy the Christian worldview that is the bedrock of the freedom any effort to improve our health depends upon.
Some may say this political observation is outside the proper purview of physicians. They are wrong. Dead wrong. Physicians should speak loudly regarding any threat to the health of their patients.
Those of us who still have faith must pray. It will take a miracle to reverse the evil tide sweeping over us.
Beautifully stated.
This was beautifully said.
Dr. Malone, I agree completely—thank you (and Dr. Jill) for your service and personal sacrifice. Your commitment, without compensation from your committee work, speaks volumes. A return to true patient-centered medicine, grounded in the doctor–patient relationship, is exactly what we need. The challenge, as your essay makes clear, is not just saying this but figuring out how we get there in the real world of corporatized, data-driven healthcare.
I am hopeful, however not delusional, that the fight against big pharma and big Ag can be won. Little nibbles around the edges of synthetic dyes and ingredients banned in other countries are a good start but I also feel that these are drone type shots against a much bigger and much better funded army that will not go down without a WW3 type battle. I stand firmly behind RFK Jr, recognizing that powerful congressional folks from both sides of the aisle are deeply imbedded with the true villians out there!
I am against it. I heard Trump mention the database and almost fainted. No database, and no precision medicine without precision testing. This is timely for me. I just submitted to genetic testing for cancer, long story behind the decision. Biopsy done by a "punch" hole in my forearm, resulted in one Chk7 gene abnormality which gives me approximately but less than 30% chance of breast cancer (or other issues) and another abnormality so rare the paperwork said "no further testing" unless there is an actual family history, which there is not. The Genetic counselor suggested Annual breast MRIs in addition to mammograms not instead of, and a full body MRI which is not available in my city) and warning all my family to get tested. There is no strong family history of cancer in my family. I started my own research and am working on a document for my family re: "genetic testing pros and cons" In my research I found some really good books by H. Gilbert Welch "Should I be tested for Cancer" "Over-diagnosed: Making People Sick in the Pursuit of Health," and "Less Medicine more health." These are not really current, but his reasoning still relevant today. I learned about him from Independent Medical Alliance. My blood tests for cancer and lymphoma are negative, my blood work (except for lipids) is perfect. I have lost 20 pounds and feel great . Basically following Dr. Mercola's "Your Guide to Cellular Health" and Paul Marik's "Cancer Care" book close at hand. Brain and Body workouts, etc etc, etc, and have started attending church again. Thank you for this post.
I deleted the really personal info.
and ... it is CHEK2 not 7...
I think using the Genetic testing tools, is just that, a tool. I used the information, of my genetic information, to help me with my health outcomes. What I do, is try to eat healthy, exercise daily and have prioritized sleep. I do my due diligence with my exams, and blood work, because as a cancer survivor, I must. Early detection is best. Been cancer free for 14 years. You do the best you can.
Dr. Malone, as you noted, it is the fear of death and disease that drives the current medical industrial complex. Somehow, people have been convinced (or coerced) to pay more and more (higher and higher insurance premiums as well as increasingly onerous copays and co-insurance) because they think that the medical establishment -- aided and abetted by socialist government policies that reward rent seekers -- will save them from death and disease. It won't. But some common sense can increase health and life span.
I like the quote that says something like "If your doctor doesn't ask what you eat or how you sleep then he/she is a drug dealer" I think the sad product of the universities teaching what to think instead of how to think can be seen when doctors with poor diagnostic skills need to use their computers to determine what might be wrong and find a chemical to fix it. DMSO nowhere on their radar. My other beef is PAIN Surely no one should ever be in pain today. Fretting about the possibility of addiction for a dying patient is crazy. My niece rang to say her aunt with terminal cancer rang her and could hardly speak for the pain. She died the next day. We don't allow our pets to be treated like that.
So true.
Thank you for fighting a good fight for all of us caught in the middle of a battle for our health and our very lives.
Do you feel comfortable giving your opinion on President Trump's deal with Pfizer? I was appalled (and angered) when he praised Albert Bourla.
Sean Spicer hit me with that question the other day. I deflected. Who knows what or if POTUS' long game is.
Thank you.
According to Dr Oz (a part of ?) the objective was to attract other pharma to join in voluntarily downpricing and enjoy praises.
TOTALLY AGREE. Bourla... That guy scares me. W-T-Heck was this administration thinking. I would not let this veterinarian treat my dog.
I’m a recently retired hematologist and medical oncologist. Dr Malone’s summary of the evolution of medical practice, in the USA, is spot on. Treatments for fatal diseases, like cancer, have been toxic and often less effective than claimed in the past. Although that remains true, the effectiveness and tolerability of the treatments used has improved (sometimes tremendously), particularly in the past 10-15 years. It can be anticipated that this trend will continue, and probably quicken. These advances have come with a very high price tag, and it is necessary to ask if the cost is worthwhile. When I was in practice, I told myself that it was not my job to determine the value to society, as my duty was to the patient. It was the rare patient who did not opt for expensive therapy, even when told it would be unlikely to be of short-term, let alone long-term, benefit. Obviously, the disconnect between who pays, and who makes treatment decisions is one problem with our current system. I am very familiar with the Canadian and English systems, which deal with the problem of treatment access by limiting therapy to everyone (except for the politically connected, the people who protect the connected, and federal felons in Canada. Assisted suicide is encouraged for those who might cost the system money… understandable when one cannot opt out of the system.). Advances in those countries only occur as a result of being pulled forward by the advances paid for in the USA. Dr Malone correctly points out that a socialist/state run health care system, which defines health as a basic right, will inevitably lead to a Canadian-like situation. Indeed, choosing the correct path forward for our nation will be a difficult and probably imperfect exercise.
In the US healthcare cost went from 10% of GDP to 20% of GDP and The Health of the average American has deteriorated and over 50% have health issues. So the question is why are we going down the wrong path in medicine
when prevention and reversal of disease states should be the focus not the treatment and chronic treatment of disease states!
While you are correct in spirit, the actual numbers show a little less disparity between countries. According to Grok, in 2023, the United States spent 17.5% of GDP on healthcare, Canada spent 12.1%, and the United Kingdom spent 10.9%.
Read my article on Bobby’s Goals. Written a year ago. There is a chart that looks at it from a per capita basis. Actually, sinceall in the US don’t have healthcare coverage, the per capita estimate is low for the USA.
https://thomasabraunrph.substack.com/p/bobbys-goal
Good comments consistent with my experiences in medical treatment years ago. I only wish that all those in elected positions and appointed bureaucrats were required to buy their medical insurance from the same sources as the general population, especially the Clintons and the Obamas. Let's level the playing field. We just might get positive results.
Won't happen as long as yhe politicians depend on Big Medicine for their re-election $$$$"S. A Senator that chastized RFK Jr got two million!
Thank you for your commentary and life's work in medicine.
I agree about the expensive treatment options. When I was faced with a rare and aggressive cancer, I spent the two weeks after surgery, calling all over the country, trying to find another alternative, other then Chemo. I didn't want to do it. It was stage 1 but very rare and aggressive kind of cancer. I had instinctively had the good sense to remove all the female plumbing. The blood numbers were horrible, but until the actual biopsy, we weren't certain for sure it was cancer. Somehow I knew it was.
I did Chemo only because I read the statistics. 80% of women with this cancer are dead in 2 years. Fourteen years later, while I hated the experience. I'm still here. If I was at a more advanced stage, I would have not done the Chemo.
After my Cancer, I have changed my lifestyle. Eat better, get sunshine and exercise, and really have gotten into "sleep." I didn't realize how little I sleep until the Hubby retired and we started to get some decent sleep.
Excellent Dr. Malone... profound. Yes, to precision medicine... individual by individual and AI might be one of the tools. At the end of the day though we each have to take responsibility for our health and what you eat and your activity levels are absolutely key to health and longevity. There is just no getting around that reality.
Here we go again. Personalized Precision Medicine is a label to sell the new concept for maintaining allopathic control of the medical paradigmn. Richard Nixon in 1971 declared war on cancer and authorized funds for research. We have spent about 180 billion doing cancer research and cancer rates except for lung cancer have grown. Eliminating smoking was the key and not medical intervention. In addition, we don't have a precise cancer reporting system and it is a hodge podge of three forms and what is needed is a uniform national system. Turbocancers have developed because of the injection of RNA. Now we have precison cancer treatment on the cellular level which is extremely expensive. Because of EAU and Prep which President Biden authorized through 2029 allows directed selling of prescription drugs directly to the patient. It by passes community physician and community pharmacist involvement who are the gate keepers to prevent adverse effects from poly pharmacy and etc. It will be run by AI programs which will interpet the reponses of the patient which may not be accurate or significant. It is already being done by Lilly with the GLP1 injections which reduces body weight by depleting muscle mass (2/3 of the effectiveness) which in turn negatively impacts organ function over time especielly heart and eye. Others like the Wellness company are doing the same as well as Ivermectin sellers. Now, we have Pfizer convincing President Trump that the TrumpRX program will save vast amounts of money on prescription drugs by cutting out the role of the drug distributor and the local pharmacy. There will be no change in the bottom line of the drug manufactuers. They will declare a reduction in RX cost because there will be no mark up by the drug distributors and drug retailers which are labor intensive entities. Eliminating the manipulation of drug pricing by the health insurance comapnaies like United Health should be the first step! The global drug companies will continute to derive over 50% of their bottom line by selling their drugs in the USA which is less that 4% of the global population many of which including RNA are of questionable value to the American patient, and polypharmy for seniors will continue unabatted. Eliminateing direct to consumer advertising will reduce costs to the drug manufacturerer and they in turn can lower their prices accordingly without the new approach of keeping direct selling as the future treatment protocol for all health issues. There have been many studies that clearly indicate that over medication, over treatment and the wrong diagnosis are responsible for our bloated expensive healthcare system. That combined with trace toxins in our food supply like dyes contribute to the ill health we are experiencing in the USA. RFK Jr. understands this clearly, and is the reciepient of push back and our politicians are willinginly participating in the push back. Sad state of affairs.
Prevention should be the focus, not more drugs. And NO ONE is talking about integrative medicine, botanical medicine, TCM, Ayurveda, homeopathy, etc. Frustrating.
The have systematically eliminated all those avenues to stay in control!
Yep! Chemo
Intervention rules!
It’s not only blood pressure numbers but sugar numbers as well as cholesterol numbers that keep expanding so they sell more drugs!
And the very recent change on blood pressure parameters likely reflects pharma's need for more money and using industry guidelines to grab more with the attempt to get even more on blood pressure meds 🙄
My mother was reared by her aunt and uncle due to unusual circumstances. "Uncle" as she called him was a medical doctor. She said the book, "The Horse and Buggy Doctor" accurately described his career in medicine. 'Progress' does have a way of screwing things up, doesn't it?