Comments on: Is Your Doctor a Salesman?

By: Vin

Vin — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 18:26:04 +0000

Hi Maria, Good question. There's no excuse for more schools to not be implementing such a program. It probably comes down to money, politics, and lack of awareness. Thanks for sharing that site. There's a lot of truth to the suggestion that doctors are dangerous. According to a commentary by Barbara Starfied, MD in the well respected Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), problems such as unnecessary surgeries, inappropriately prescribed drugs, and adverse effects of properly prescribed drugs make our medical system the third leading cause of death!

By: Maria

Maria — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 21:47:39 +0000

Thanks Vin. I have actually read that report. I have no doubt that diet is the key to good behaviour and sound learning. But why aren’t others following the example? Bad behaviour is rife in schools.
A friend and I intend to use that, as well as one of my posts, for incoming kinder parents at the start of the academic year. I may also use some of yours Vin, because if we can change the habits of a few, well you never know what a ripple effect that may have.
You might also like to check out: http://www.doctorsaredangerous.com Some very interesting reading there.

By: Vin

Vin — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:14:17 +0000

Hi Maria, thanks for your comment!

I’m sorry to hear about your daughter and hope that everything will work out as well as it can. I understand that drugs are sometimes necessary and that the companies making them need to make money, but that certainly doesn’t justify the current situation.

I agree that it takes more effort to live the type of lifestyle that will minimize the need for drugs, but it doesn’t require as much effort as most people fear, especially after the changes become habit. It’s certainly worth the effort, and I’m sure that anyone who’s been through it would fully agree. Besides, it’s more about improving quality of life in general than just avoiding potentially harmful drugs.

School lunches are a great subject to talk about. If you aren’t already familiar with the school lunch program at the Central Alternative High School in Appleton, Wisconsin, you might want to check it out. The results are very impressive.

By: Maria

Maria — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 10:42:45 +0000

Hi Vin,
It’s interesting that I have already written a post along these lines. ( I have not yet published my blog as I am a newbie A-lister). Some years ago I was at a dinner part where a doctor announced that if he prescribed a given amount of a particular drug he would be given a holiday to America. I was shocked.
Then a few months ago I was talking about this at another dinner party. One woman at the table said that this was simply not true, whereupon her husband interjected and said yes it was, and that through hsi job he had witnessed first-hand the wooing of doctors by the drug companies. As far as I can see , the FDA has much to answer for.
Right now we are ploughing through the Internet in the search for help for our daughter who is a victim of a particular drug usage. She was 20 years old when she took this drug (against our advice and pleading) and she has paid highly for doing so. There is a possibility of a class action being conducted against the company, and believe me we will be part of that action because they knew many years ago that the drug was lethal. The trouble is that by the time childen turn 18 they are regarded as adult and parental intervention is impossible.
The only hope any of us has is to become our own doctors. To that end we have become organic gardeners. We don’t eat meat now, and we buy precious little processed food. It’s a different style of living. It takes planning and time, but hey, the reults are worth it.
As a teacher I have watched the spiralling decline in children’s behaviour and health, but, take a look into their lunch boxes and the evidence is there – but this is the subject of yet another of my posts!

By: Vin

Vin — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 20:59:05 +0000

Hi Miguel, I think it's great that you've developed an interest in healthy eating and lifestyle habits. To learn more, I suggest that you go to my getting started page to find other articles that might interest you and check out my recommended reading list for some great books. In my articles, you'll also find references to other helpful websites and resources. Good luck with your learning, I hope you enjoy the process!

By: Miguel

Miguel — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 15:10:45 +0000

I agree with you Vin!!!!.
I am absolutely responable for my health. I would like to study Nutrition and Lifestyle. Do you sugest some place I can do it on line?. I live in Argentina.
Great site.

By: Vin

Vin — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 15:50:02 +0000

Hi Stacey, thanks for sharing your experience! I think it’s great that you’re making an effort to expand your knowledge to help your customers be less dependent their prescriptions!

By: stacey mcgovern

stacey mcgovern — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 03:51:31 +0000

I am in no way offended. It kills me to see every child with a runny nose be put on an antibiotic or an elderly patient fill 15 rx’s when I know the second 10 are a direct result of the first 5. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job but your right. I think you give doctors credit for having more knowledge than they actually do. They tend to have their favorite drugs which they prescribe or are familiar with due to the drug reps and when they need to go beyond that, they open the PDR on their palm pilot and prescribe the first thing that fits the diagnosis.
As a pharmacist, I had no training in vitamins or herbal supplements. Shocking ,yes,but they are not considered drugs and are not studied by the FDA. I have taken continuing education classes on these topics, but that is limited.I have a hard time recommending these products which are located directly in front of my counter so I get questions all day long!! I usually refer them to their doctor or get out my supplement book and do the best I can.