Talk about health

I'm sure you all remember that when you get any advice that is not from a conventional doctor, it always ends with the words, "be sure to ask your doctor before starting or changing treatments". It's the get-out clause for everything; as if your doctor knows all there is to know about your body, health, every form of treatment and all the good and bad things that can happen if you mix and match therapies from conventional to complementary and alternative.

But I have bad news. Most doctors hardly know enough about their own speciality, never mind any alternative treatment. So why ask them? It's all about blame. If it goes wrong, you can sue the doctor and perhaps get some money out of the system.

I've come to this because of a couple of recent events. My daughter graduated from university and came back home for the summer. She had a couple of relatively minor health concerns she wanted to ask the family doctor about, and she made an appointment. Her preferred GP couldn't see her for four weeks!!! Another doctor had appointments in a few days, so that had to do.

Armed with her list of questions, my daughter went for the appoinment as arranged. When she came out I asked how things had gone. I had hoped for some concern, sensible discussion, and possible ways forward from the doctor. But no. She apparently didn't really care; it wasn't urgent; go away and buy a couple of things from the pharmacy.

I was very disappointed and upset that the health service in the UK simply did not want to know. The practice that we have been with for more than 30 years didn't care that my daughter wanted a little help. I know it wasn't an emergency or life threatening. But giving some useful advice now could well save more serious problems in the future. And I'm told the average GP earns something approaching £100,000 a year.

Well, I for one, don't think they warrant such a return if that's any example of what they do.
And, as for asking your doctor before you start any treatment of any kind is just laughable. Let's face the facts. Your doctor knows little of complementary and alternative therapies. He or she certainly will not be able to help you. All they will do is to try to put you off everything except for some conventional treatment.

In other words you'll come away with a prescription for an expensive and poweful drug that has a long list of side effects, and will probably cause some other problem that needs yet another drug to control it.

The second thing was while I was reading an article on trying a herbal remdy to help you sleep. The author described a simple situation of insomnia and the herb that might help while compaing it with the problems associated with a conventional equivalent. The herb had few if any side effects while the latter had real problems with hangover drowsiness and addiction. He finished with the usual "ask your doctor first".

I almost shouted at the screen, "Why ask him?" It is clear that the herb is much safer than the prescription drug so why bother. Try the herb first and if it doesn't work, move on. Talk to the herbalist or health professional; get some other advice. Only go to the doctor if you think there might be some underlying cause for your problem, such as cancer. Then insist on answers.

If you want to try something new, read up about it yourself and if you think it might help, just get on with it. Telling your doctor really won't help you. But, remember that if you do this it is your responsibility if it doesn't go the way you hope. You can't sue yourself. But, at least you will go into it with your eyes wide open.

Asking your doctor is clearly there to avoid law suits flying to the authors. I understand that since I am an author too, and the last thing I want is to be sued. So everything I write is with the understanding that it is educational advice, not medical. The responsibility is yours to be informed and happy with what you choose to do about your health. You choose, you decide and you take the consequences. Ask your doctor if you want to; as if he cares!

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