At the end of the day, all businesses share a common goal of turning a profit. So it should come as no surprise to you that pharmaceutical companies, like other corporations, are in it to make money. Unfortunately, physicians often find themselves tangled up in Big Pharma’s drug-riddled web. And this entanglement trickles down and negatively affects you, the patient.
A primary reason our medical system is out of control is because the public tends to believe everything doctors say. Most patients take their physicians’ advice without any skepticism or questioning—they simply do what they’re told to do. Sure, doctors who fail to explore safer, less expensive therapies such as nutritional supplements and hand out drug prescriptions like candy on Halloween are negligent. But patients are ultimately responsible for their own health.
If you take at face value what another person says simply because he or she is wearing a white coat, then you are part of the problem. When we deal with car salesmen, real estate agents, lawyers, and the like, our skepticism protects us. But when we deal with doctors, we are worse than sheep being led to the slaughterhouse. Throughout history, physicians have been placed on a pedestal. This needs to stop. It just gives them too much power and power corrupts those who possess it.
The most important step you can take in dealing with your physician is to realize that you—and only you—are responsible for your own health. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself and ask questions. If your doctor prescribes a medication, see if there’s a natural alternative. Is surgery his go-to recommendation? Explore the possibility of noninvasive therapies. If he or she is unwilling to discuss these options, find yourself a doctor who will.
Remember, empowering yourself is the first of many steps on the road back to health.
