JUST A THOUGHT - ON THE IMPONDERABLES OF PLACING YOURSELF IN THE HANDS OF YOUR DOCTOR AND THE DRUG INDUSTRIES. PART 2.

Of course, difficult as it might be for your doctor to always, or, even oftentimes make an accurate diagnosis of what ails you.  

It is quite another matter for this hippocratic professional to prescribe for you the most appropriate and efficacious remedy for your illness. 

This is not surprising, since the provider of the remedy, where it is a pharmaceutical product, comes within the remit of another specialist. 

The drug manufacturing industry. It is to the drug manufacturers to whom your doctor must look.  In finding a relief or cure, when he/she resorts to a medicinal option to treat you. 

As he/she does not manufacture, monitor and carry out research into the effects of the medicine they are about to prescribe for your diagnosed illnesses.  

They must rely on the self-interested information provided by the drug manufacturers.

So, how do you, the patient, know that your diagnosis is accurate, and that you are getting the most efficacious and non-detrimental medication? 

How do you know that you are being prescribed medication which is not only going to make your diagnosed illness better?  But also  that it is not going to subject you to undesirable and distressing side-effects? 

Some of which can be worse than your primary illness? Well, you might not be able to tell. 

At least, not before you have started taking the medication and find that you are developing new symptoms, or that some of those which you already have, have increased or worsened.

Which is why we should all endeavour to be more vigilant and prudent in our interactions with our doctors and pharmacists. 

Why we should avoid being the passive and unquestioning recipients of medication to ingest or anoint our bodies with. 

To be continued!