“We Torture People Before They Die” is a VERY bold piece of journalism. Jonathan Kay of the National Post did a very good job here.
For me, it begged the question: What do medical ethicists do? Why do they exist? Here’s an idea: if modern western medical practitioners would only practice the Hyppocratic Oath, would it do away with medical ethicists?
What’s in the Hyppocratic oath? Most people refer to “do no harm”. Even that little phrase would do a lot of good, if only doctors and researchers would actually consider only that!
Here’s one version of an English translation of the original Greek:
“I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath and agreement:
“To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art; and that by my teaching, I will impart a knowledge of this art to my own sons, and to my teacher’s sons, and to disciples bound by an indenture and oath according to the medical laws, and no others.
“I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.
“I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and similarly I will not give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.
“But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.
“I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.
“In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or men, be they free or slaves.
“All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.
“If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all humanity and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my life.”
The article, “We torture people before they die” in the National Post on July 4, 2013, asks a number of questions. He talks about unwanted treatments, about recommending and performing surgery on very elderly patients, about putting quantity of life before and above quality of life. He makes some very good points.
Why do “we torture people before they die”? I think that surgeons only know how to do surgery and of course, they’re paid well to perform the surgeries. I very much doubt that they care as much about the patient as Kay kindly implies. He says they’re not fanatics or sadists. So what’s left to explain this bizarre practice? They want to make a living!
Wasting resources on someone who is already too weak to withstand the surgery is – unethical. That’s the problem with the one-size-fits-all-medicine that is practiced today in North America. It barely takes into account the constitution of the patient. Barely. What’s even more revealing is the lack of respect for a sentient human being, who when it becomes elderly and inconvenient, suddenly has neither voice nor rights. Families are similarly hand-cuffed because they don’t have any say in the matter either.
The article “we torture people before they die” points it out very plainly. Amazing. This is NOT medicine. It’s a laughing stock. But it’s NO laughing matter.
It’s inhumane. We don’t treat our beloved pets this way. Why must we treat human beings like this? Why can’t we let people go with dignity? That’s the problem with BIG institutions – big government, big business, and lately in the last few years, big environmentalists and big medicine. They HATE people because they think you’re too stupid to take care of your self.
I say that they should look closely at the Hyppocratic oath one day and really give it a shot. Put quality of life before quantity of life always. This is one of my major goals – reform medicine and adopt common sense and practical medicine that actually works. That of course, means Chinese medicine.
The Hyppocratic art reminds practitioners that medicine is an art. Sure, there should be science behind it – just as there is for Chinese medicine – but science is a tool to make the art work. As it should be. The science which makes a human being into a mere piece of meat, is NOT good enough.
Focus on health, not on disease.
Focus on strength, not on creating more weakness.
Focus on optimism, not on fear.
Focus on quality of life, not quantity.
Focus on Living, not just hanging on to life.
Jonathan Kay refers to this man’s film in his piece, “We Torture People Before They Die”: “How Not To Die”. The medical profession really needs to take a deep honest assessment of itself. All the technology we have is wonderful, but it’s used for too many of the wrong reasons. Every time a young person tells me they’re going to study medicine, I silently cringe. But it’s their choice. They’ll find out later why so many MDs are an unhappy, burned out, stressed out, and unhealthy lot.
Dr. Joanny Liu, TCMD, RAc, P.Eng. Dr Joanny Liu “Best Selling Author and founder of Extraordinary Sports Medicine, where we help athletes reverse injury, get back in the game they love and improve their quality of life.” Best selling book at: Heal Your Concussion: How to Quickly and Effectively Get Back in the Game Remember, we’ve got two books about healing concussions in Amazon: Knock OUT Concussions, Heal Your Concussion: 21 Days to Brain Health, and Dr. Joanny’s new book, Heal Your Concussion: How to Quickly and Effectively Get Back in the Game is NOW live on Amazon!
