Incurable Conditions?

[SHATOUSHKA]

there is no clarity when chemical reactions are induced.

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~~share some greased tea with me~~
General Philosophy
Discuss This...
The Acropolis

[La Luna Unita]

But there is no clarity when one is sick with pain, and in pain from sickness. To me, there is no clarity in our human situations, in any facet of them, and this is why we get multiple opinions, to keep from bias and to compare views to see what is real and right.

I think that short-term relief is fine. And I also think that the comfort of patients should be a goal if not THE goal of the medical community. It seems to me that if you aren't trying to increase the quality and longetivity of the human lifespan, then what's the point of the medical profession? Why prolong life if it is still nasty and brutish? What I like especially about tyle's story is that it is a solution that doesn't involve drugs, but I think that if drugs are the only way to ease pain, then fine with me. I don't think that it is hedonism that prompts this, just an unwillingness to see people suffer when it is unnecessary.

The reason I think short term relief is ok is that in most of the cases that I know, doctors will not promote any sort of drug or treatment that they know DOES cause a later complication. Most of the drugs used now are tested and retested, and are "safe" insofar as they won't later kill a patient or bring a resurgence of their condition.

At any rate, with the story above, I would say this about the treatment: the woman has MS, which is a crippling and often lethal condition. She was already nearly unable to walk. Even if the excercises were to hurt her eventually, I think I would have made the same choice as she did, since according to her doctors, she was NEVER going to get better in their care. At least with tyle's friend, the girl was able to enjoy a quality of life comprable to what she previously enjoyed, something she never thought she would be able to do again.

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Never ask a man if he is from Texas. If he is, he will let you know. If he isn't there is no use in embarassing him.

[This message has been edited by La Luna Unita (edited January 24, 2002).]

[SHATOUSHKA]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>But there is no clarity when one is sick with pain, and in pain from sickness. To me, there is no clarity in our human situations, in any facet of them, and this is why we get multiple opinions, to keep from bias and to compare views to see what is real and right.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

i agree with everything you have said...except for the last three words.

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~~share some greased tea with me~~
General Philosophy
Discuss This...
The Acropolis

[Mr. Robin]

As far as I understand of science and medicine, the basic reason why Doctors do NOT condone 'alternative methods' of healing has little to do with anything other then the need for them to understand the pathways of such endeavors, the manner in which the purported TREATMENTS work.

This is a bit like the E.S.P. debate that has gone on in private in the scientific world for a little bit of time.

I read a good treatise on it, and the most fundamental problem was that when the pathway of solution is not understood endorsement leads to all kinds of practitioners practicing something that may, or may not, work.

All of this is relative to the knowledge of the practitioner. A person may claim to be a mentalist, and might be quite capable of performing the feat.

But, without a provable scientific methodology for demonstrating the manner of the action, endorsements of the practice opens the doors to any who would make the claim, and there is no method for separating those who actually can do the job, and those who will willingly fake it for the money!

The methods of the "others" have not been completely examined, not been completely understood on any other basis then faith.

Scientific studies have demonstrated that placebos are quite capable in curing some people, because they believe that they will be cured, that throws a great monkey wrench into the anecdotal histories of successful solutions.

This does not state that I do not believe that some of these methods don't work, but, in consideration of just what is at stake, validations, IMHO, are to be attached with a big "buyer beware" sign cause there are lots of people out there who will take your money and run!


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My Teacher is in all people, but not all people are my Teacher

[La Luna Unita]

Definitely true enough. Caution to the winds is never a good idea in medical situations.