Personal opinion: I know only a few words that appear regularly in professional mudslinging. This one signifies a tragedy to the detriment of the patients who cannot help but trust accredited or self-pronounced healers. Here is why: Whom I trust to assist my body recovering from illness or injury is not so much a question of status in society through university graduation and passing various qualification exams. The question is: is it effective? What are the short-term and long term benefits and side effects? Am I willing to be a guinea-pig? In the course of history, a fraction of the entrenched scholars and doctors have always attacked new medical skills. Only a few generations ago, the establishment scorned at the advice to wash hands before touching the next patient and to disinfect the equipment before each use. Today, we are grateful beyond belief that the proponents of such practice at that time persisted. They continued to do what they felt was right despite being labeled quacks. Their methods were simply beyond the accepted level of medical practice and scientific research of that.time. What makes us believe today is any different? Only after the advanced thinkers had a fair number of cases to demonstrate their new methods were effective, slowly did the opposition die away and the new knowledge spread to the benefit of mankind. Had the people chosen to follow only the established practice, the new methods could have easily been outlawed and all progress smothered. If I am wary of anything, it is a professor who professes. So, let’s keep an eye on those labeled “quacks” and make sure their methods are effective. Zero risk is not attainable, neither with established medical practice nor with alternative medicine. The best course of action is the informed choice. And for the right to do my own investigation and make my own choice I will fight as much as I will fight for your right to voice your own opinion. You can fool some of the people
some of the time,
but you cannot fool all of the people
all the time.
[Author unknown] |
