This email contains two sections:
1. Posting: Good & Bad Doctors
2. Links
Jan 15, 2015
GOOD & BAD DOCTORS
Namaskar,
These days there are many good doctors, but also many ills within the medical profession - especially where extreme capitalism has taken hold. And the root cause behind these deficiencies is a faulty mind-set.
So long as doctors feel that they are doing business and need to make a profit, the medical profession will never be able to right itself. That outlook is what taints the field.
Shrii PR Sarkar has made this a major theme in His Prout teachings. And He has furthermore recounted His own personal interactions with doctors who tried to cheat their patients. All of that and more is told below - including the psychology that should drive medicine, not the profit motive but rather service psychology.
A LITTLE LONGER TO CURE THE PATIENT,
HENCE I SELL MORE MEDICINE
HENCE I SELL MORE MEDICINE
Here Shrii Sarkar recounts one incident of when He took one small boy to the doctor for treatment.
"Let me recount an incident that occurred several years ago. In 1940 I went to a homoeopathic pharmacy.With me was a boy of twelve or thirteen, the younger brother of an acquaintance. I had gone there for some medicine for the boy. The doctor took pains to examine the boy properly, then prescribed some medicine. He said, “Please return with his medical report on Saturday afternoon.” I replied, “Will Saturday morning not do? On Saturday afternoon I will be going out of town; I will be going home.” Further discussion revealed that we came from the same district and our homes came under the jurisdiction of adjacent police stations on opposite sides of a river. The doctor then asked me to return the medicine and said, “I am giving you another medicine.”
"When I asked why he said, “Both medicines are good, but I give the first medicine to people I do not know because it takes a little longer to cure the patient, hence I sell more medicine.”" (1)
By Shrii Sarkar's above first-hand account, it is quite apparent that some doctors employ various tricks to make a bigger profit.
Note: In His personal accounts that appear throughout this letter, Shrii Sarkar is describing medical practices in India during the 1940’s and 1950’s. But such issues are no doubt prevalent in various forms around the entire globe. Top of all, Shrii Sarkar is exposing the defective mentality that has become rampant in today’s for-profit, medical industry.
FOR PROFIT:
EXPENSIVE PROCEDURES ARE NEEDLESSLY PERFORMED
EXPENSIVE PROCEDURES ARE NEEDLESSLY PERFORMED
In places like the USA - where materialism is a distinct disease and doctors and the pharmaceutical companies view the field of medicine as a way to accumulate riches - the situation is a thousand times worse: Wrongful medicines are given; expensive procedures and costly treatments are needlessly performed; research is profit-driven; curable but uncommon diseases are overlooked; and, patients are seen as paying customers, not as fellow human beings who need care.
Plus there are so many other related problems that compromise the medical profession like the exorbitant cost of medical treatment. All such ills are in vogue now and will continue into the foreseeable future - so long as capitalism is the driving force behind the medical profession.
Prout philosophy states, "No matter what country you belong to, tell me honestly, how many doctors can you really trust and respect? Among the doctors you know, you may believe in one or two at the most, but those who have won your faith may or may not command your respect. In other words, the doctors whom you believe in, who can cure a patient, are not accessible because they cost too much." (2)
What is rampant in the USA is fast spreading to all points across the globe. So we should all be alert.
All familiar with the teachings of Prout know well that the answer lies in turning medicine into a service oriented profession. This is not a far off ideal, it is entirely feasible and that is the only way to undo the nightmare of today's medical practices.
SOCIAL SERVICE IS THE MAIN AIM
OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION
In capitalism, society is driven by the profit-motive - period. Everyone works for their own selfish interests and by that way society moves. Everything is done out of the business motive.
But humans have the capacity for service. Animals primarily do only for their own stomach, i.e. self-interest. Humans though feel moved internally to help and serve others. A mother nurses her baby, people donate money to those in need, youths volunteer their time in destitute regions. Good people want to serve.
And this ideal should be encouraged and honoured more and more. People who have love for humanity should be goaded into service oriented professions like medicine. And they should be respected for their noble choice. In that way the medical profession can regain its integrity.
Prout philosophy states, "The medical profession as such has more to do with social service than with professionalism. Social service is the main aim of the medical profession. But then social workers cannot live on air, so they have to accept some money for their livelihood from the government, autonomous bodies, public institutions or ordinary people: in short, from those they serve. To be a doctor may appear to be a way of earning a living to an unemployed person, but it cannot be categorized as a business under any circumstances." (3)
Thus under no circumstances should doctors be in business for themselves. In that case they will compromise the health of the patient in order to make more money. Rather they should be guaranteed funding by the government and be given recourse to pursue their profession according to service psychology.
DOCTORS PRESCRIBE LAB TESTS
BECAUSE THEY GET A "KICKBACK"
BECAUSE THEY GET A "KICKBACK"
Unfortunately, the situation is not like that today. See here how doctors cheat their patients to make more money.
Shrii Sarkar says, "Of all the doctors you have come across, how many are idealistic and dutiful? If you visit a doctor, he will prescribe strong medicines for a light illness. This will inevitably be the case if he owns his own dispensary." (4)
And indeed these days some surgeons perform open heart surgery just so that they can collect a big fee. Or some doctors prescribe lab tests because they get a "kickback" (i.e. payment) from the lab for each test ordered. Or there are so many scams going on. These are common occurrences in places like the USA. And in unregulated markets like Mexico, China, and India, other types of issues surface. All of this is rampant these days among certain doctors and it is only spreading more around the globe.
And the problem is further multiplied by the entire pharmaceutical profession - as vast subset of the today’s profit-oriented medical industry. These pharmaceutical companies have one bottom line: Maximum profit. That is their driving agenda and to increase profits they resort to numerous seedy and dishonest ways.
SOME DOCTORS EXPLOIT THEIR POSITION AND
TAKE TO UNDERHANDED BUSINESS MANEUVERS
TAKE TO UNDERHANDED BUSINESS MANEUVERS
The crux of the matter is that doctors hold a unique position in society. Nobody wants to get sick and certainly nobody wants to die, so they go to the doctor filled with hope, regard, and respect. They feel totally dependent and think of that doctor as a saviour or demi-god.
Prout philosophy states, "A helpless person, no matter how great his financial, social or intellectual capacity, considers a doctor to be a ray of light in the darkness or a lifeboat which can save him from drowning." (5)
In that case, doctors can easily exploit the situation in their favour. They have the upper hand. The patient needs help and the doctor promises a cure. In that case, the doctor can do anything he wants.
In a service oriented profession when the welfare of the patient is put at a premium, then all is well. But when big $$ profits are at stake, doctors often exploit their position and take to underhanded business maneuvers.
Here the point is that when given the power, selfish doctors fall prey to abusing and cheating their patients in all kinds of ways: Sexually, financially, medically etc. Tragically, capitalism initially rewards those greedy, selfish doctors by giving them huge stature in society. And if they break the law it can take years to unearth their wrongdoing and sentence the doctor to jail.
SPURIOUS DRUGS AND INJECTIONS
ARE ADMINISTERED TO PATIENTS
ARE ADMINISTERED TO PATIENTS
Here is the Proutistic overview of a few of the ills in today's medical industry in some countries.
Prout philosophy states, "Countless complaints can be made against doctors and the medical profession. Although it would take a lot of space to list them all, let me briefly mention a few: patients have to settle for adulterated medicines unless they bribe the pharmacist; sweepers, orderlies and nurses do not take proper care of a patient’s needs unless they are tipped; a patient writhing in pain may be rebuked instead of being given medicine; if one does not call the doctor at least once for a personal consultation so that that doctor can earn some extra money, one may be unable to secure a bed on one’s next visit to the hospital; a medicine that is supposedly out of stock in the hospital can be illegally purchased in a nearby shop at an exorbitant price; without bribing the doctor a sick patient will not be admitted to the hospital; during the compulsory medical examination for a new job, all the medical staff put out their hand for a bribe; the doctor in collusion with the optician fails many people in their eye tests so that they will have to buy glasses; hospital patients are served food which is cheaper and of poorer quality than what they are entitled to; milk and fruits reserved for patients are consumed by the hospital staff; spurious drugs and injections are administered to patients. Such grievances are endless. Some are extremely serious, involving accusations of such irresponsibility that it is difficult to believe that people actually have these experiences." (6)
All such incidents will wash away with a service oriented medical industry. The day is not far off.
MOST RARE DISEASES GO UNTREATED
Another common malady in today's medical profession is the lack of research in less common diseases.
At present, so many companies invest money into researching new hypertension (high blood pressure) medicine because they can gain enormous profits. When the better option is to guide the patient how to cure hypertension through lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, meditation etc). But this they do not do because selling high blood pressure medicine is a gold-mine these days. People will take that medicine for the rest of their life: What a sale - daily consumption by tens of millions of people.
Yet at the same time, there are so many diseases classified as "rare" where no medical research is underway due to lack of funding. So from the outset the tendency is not to research and make medicines for rare diseases. And if a medicine is made then the cost is astronomical - and may take years or a lifetime for the common citizen pay. Yer there are around 30 million people in the US alone suffering from these "rare" diseases, and there is almost no hope in sight for them. The same tragedy plays out in other countries as well.
Some common "rare" diseases include: Vitiligo (white patches on the skin), testicular cancer, gastric lymphoma etc. Many suffer from countless conditions and numerous syndromes.
Basically, if less than 200,000 people suffer from a disease in the US it is labeled as "rare" or "orphan" in most cases drug companies do not want to touch it as it is too costly for them, i.e. too difficult to make a big profit. Hence those patients are just left to suffer while medical research aims towards bigger financial catches.
It is for this reason that Shrii Sarkar tells the following story in His Ananda Vacanamrtam series.He recounts how nobody wants to go to Kishanganj because the incidence of malaria is very high there. Only doctors like to go there because they will have a huge number of patients. Such doctors even pray that let people get sick so I may earn a good living.
For this reason and more, people commonly view many doctors as being greedy businessmen, nothing more.
Prout philosophy states, "We hear many people say, “The medical profession is a business like any other. Can such a business prosper without doing anything wrong? It is impossible to run a business if one is totally honest.”" (7)
When this selfish mentality is rampant, then how can the medical profession ever truly help society.
PROUT'S SOLUTION:
MOTHER DOES NOT THINK TO CHEAT HER SICK CHILD
MOTHER DOES NOT THINK TO CHEAT HER SICK CHILD
Shrii Sarkar's answer to the failing medical profession is quite simple.
Prout philosophy states, "The welfare of the patient should be the main aim of the medical profession." (8)
In order for the patient's welfare to come first, doctors and pharmaceutical companies must be more interested in providing a service to society than fattening their own wallet. Unfortunately, in capitalism the profit motive is running rampant in the field of medicine, but it need not always be like this.
In past societies and in the future when Prout is in vogue, so many good-hearted people will venture into professions with the sole motivation of helping others. Youths who are broad-minded should be encouraged in this way.
We must remember that a service psychology is not an unheard of phenomenon. When a child is sick, the mother does not think that now is the time to cheat her child, rather she thinks she must sacrifice and do all she can to cure her baby. This is service psychology - when one's heart is moved to help someone, setting aside all personal interest. Many people do such selfless acts everyday and it is time that this come in vogue in today's medical industry.
Let us also remember that the 5 minimum requirements must be guaranteed to all - including proper medical care. So there is no option but to resurrect and right the current medical model, otherwise society will never move ahead.
Here again Shrii Sarkar is giving a personal account of what happens when doctors are driven by greed and profits.
Prout philosophy states, "Once I heard about a doctor, standing by the bed of a poor, distressed patient, who said in an authoritarian way, “You must pay my fees at once. I won’t listen to any excuses.” A poor relative of the patient left the house in despair, borrowed money by giving an IOU, and paid the doctor’s bill. I doubt whether a country can be considered civilized if the strictest reform measures are not taken against such human demons." (9)
CONVENIENCE OF THE PATIENT
MUST BE GIVEN MAIN CONSIDERATION
MUST BE GIVEN MAIN CONSIDERATION
All have the inherent desire to serve. If this quality is cultivated and nurtured, all the many ills infesting today's medical profession will vanish. To doctors, here is this final guideline.
Prout philosophy states, "The convenience of the patient must be given more consideration than your own." (10)
Then and only then will they be rid of their dirty mind-set.
People who have inherent love for humanity should be goaded into service oriented professions like medicine. And they should be respected for their noble choice. In that way the medical profession can regain its integrity.
CONCLUSION
The general human tendency is towards service mentality. So that should be encouraged. Those driven by a business mentality should not become doctors. While those with a service mentality should be given a stipend to complete their education. Then there will be a sufficient number of doctors to serve the society.
Remember, according to Prout, the medical profession should not be not an industry per se. It should not be a business venture or individual enterprise. Rather, this must be run on a cooperative basis - no profit, no loss, guided by a service mentality. By society will be far better off. Many illnesses will be wholly eliminated, the overall health of society will improve, and those who do get sick will receive proper care.
Namaskar,
in Him,
Moksa Deva
Note 1: THE WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE DRUGS
When people talk about expensive drugs, they usually are referring to drugs like Lipitor for high cholesterol ($1,500 a year), Zyprexa for schizophrenia ($7,000 a year) or Avastin for cancer ($50,000 a year). But none of these medicines come close to making Forbes’ exclusive survey of the most expensive medicines on the planet.
The nine drugs on our list all cost more than $200,000 a year for the average patient who takes them. Most of them treat rare genetic diseases that afflict fewer than 10,000 patients. For these diseases, there are few if any other treatments. So biotech companies can charge pretty much whatever they want.
Alexion Pharmaceutical’s Soliris, at $409,500 a year, is the world’s single most expensive drug. (Courtesy of Forbes.com)
Note 2: HIGH COST OF CANCER DRUGS FORCES
MANY TO STOP TREATMENT STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
MANY TO STOP TREATMENT STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
Astronomical prices for breakthrough new cancer drugs are pushing up treatment costs for patients as well as insurers, making it tougher for patients to complete lengthy therapy at a time when it's increasingly effective.
Global spending on cancer medicines hit $91 billion last year, up from $71 billion in 2008 and $37 billion a decade ago, according to a report from the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics. That's despite factors that have slowed the average annual increase in cancer drug spending to 5.4 percent over the past five years, down from 14.2 percent increases each year from 2003 to 2008.
"We'll cross (the $100 billion) threshold in the next year or so," predicted Murray Aitken, the institute's executive director. That amount would be about 10 percent of worldwide spending on all prescription drugs.
In the U.S., a month's supply of a brand-name cancer drug is now about $10,000, double what it was a decade ago, according to the report. The most expensive drug, at $117,648 for a course of treatment. (Courtesy of IMSHealth.com)
Note 3: EXAMPLE OF BAD DOCTOR
Recently, two pediatricians in the state of Ohio were sentenced to long jail terms for sexually abusing their patients, i.e. young boys. Their criminal behaviour went on for years and years before they were finally caught and sentenced.
A gynecologist in the US was recently sentenced to 45 years in jail for sexually abusing his patients.
Sadly, there are some doctors who resort to such degrading acts - though this is not the norm.
REFERENCES
1. Human Society - 1
2. Human Society - 1
3. Human Society - 1
4. Human Society - 1
5. Human Society - 1
6. Human Society - 1
7. Human Society - 1
8. Human Society - 1
9. Human Society - 1
10. Caryacarya - 2
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From: "Marc Pele"
Baba
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Deserts Needed
Baba says, "Ecologists claim that some deserts are essential for keeping
the global ecology in a balanced state. The high day temperatures and
the cold night temperatures that occur in desert regions create a useful
effect. The hot, dry desert air rises and creates a vacuum which sucks
in cool air, generating a chain reaction. Moist air is sucked in from
the sea and formed into clouds which then rain on the land. If deserts
vanish entirely, the overall rainfall will be reduced." (PNS-16, p.37)
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