> In article <[log in to unmask]>, Katie Law <katie@utu-
> mno.demon.co.uk> writes
> >Sometimes I think medicine is little more than magic.
I agree with George here. What's so bad about magic?
If iridologists, reflexologists, homeopaths etc are allowed to utilise
the power of magic to help their patients (and don't get me wrong- I'm
not knocking them for it), why should we be denied the option? One of the
problems of moving away from a paternalist (or even maternalist) method
of practice is that the power of magic fades.Again I'm not suggesting we
go back to the 'old days', merely that we should not lose an important
skill.
No-one would suggest we have all the scientific answers to enable us to
be perfect in our work. Why not use psychology (a slightly scientific
form of magic) or just plain, unadulterated witchcraft,provided it
is tailored to the patient's views and knowledge, if it helps achieve
the desired objective?
*What is the objective though? *
The greatest good for the greatest number?..a public health dr. might
think this, but does that include the patient's wishes?
The benefit of the patient?..measured by whom? Is treating hypertension
in a healthy 40 yr old with drugs that affect him/her financially and
physically, for a condition that only statistics tell us might be
harmful?
The subjective benefit of the patient?..too many possible contradictions
here.
The answer surely is all of these, melded with our skill at managing
uncertainty, in order to help people feel more at ease with life, and
death. Returning to the start of the thread, magic is fine by me if it
helps.
Cheerio,
Graham
'Good health is merely the slowest possible rate at
which one can die.'
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