Health Matters with Dr. Scunziano-Singh
On Alternative Medicine...What Seems to be the Problem, Doc?
When a medical doctor in general is confronted with the question of alternative medicinals/modalities of treatment, what is the LIKELY reaction? What is your reaction? A common patient encounter will be fraught with either total skepticism or the doctor's refusal to accept such a discussion rendering the patient feeling persecuted or even foolish for raising the subject. The consequence of such encounters is the disintegration of doctor patient relationships on a large scale.
The most commmon reason for this disruption in the medical community is the physician's inattentiveness to other healing therapies. This prevailing attitude of inflexibily and steadfast conformity among allopathic doctors to the dogma of the training that excludes ancient or "traditional" forms of medicine creates mounting opposition and discontent toward the medical profession in the minds of people seeking treatments of the least harmful type. Today, moreso than ever historically, patients are very skeptical of pharmaceuticals actually approved by the FDA due to issues of adverse and/or fatal outcomes, not to mention the cost in dollars $$$!!! The media along with the world-wide Web have become the major sources of ovewhelming data setting the stage for the negativity generated in society over drug companies. Doctors themselves, moreover, are not spending enough time to discuss all the pertinent drug affects, positive or negative, that further aggravates a bad situation.
|
What Happened to the "Doctor"?
It appears that our medical community in general is suffering form a rather disturbing affliction. The "doctor" has become deficient in the one essential component of practice: compassion.
The problem may very well have emerged over time and has become chronic, unfortunately. First, we as physicians must all understand that we are educated to become teachers ourselves and not dictators. We are not superior beings with superhuman powers, untouchable and without fault or frailty. Our very purpose is to extend our minds and hearts for the sake of helping others in their troubled lives. Hence, the compassion element-the sine qua non of our art of medical care, must be present. As teachers ( doctor is derived from the Latin docere, "to teach") we are to demonstrate this very element toward the patient i.e. a feeling of sympathy, pity and understanding. This then establishes the doctor-patient relationship in which the physician can educate the patient on his/her problem and help in the resolution process. The patient, in turn, will respond to the compassionate provider and remember her/his every (or most) word, gesture and attitude with peace of mind.
|
|
|
|
|
Health Matters by Dr. Maria
