If you want a great, though challenging, read on how we wound up with the “health care” environment we’ve got today, give Ivan Ilich’s Medical Nemesis a whirl. Early on, Ilich comments on the “illusion” (his term) of doctors’ effectiveness. It’s a passage worth quoting at length: The infections that prevailed at the outset of […]
Health Freedom/Informed Consent
A New Round of Vax Bills in the Texas State Legislature
A few years ago in the Houston Chronicle, State Representative Sarah Davis shared her views on the role of government in health care: As a proud Republican, I believe the strength of our nation lies with the individual and that each person’s dignity, freedom, ability and responsibility must be honored. Personal freedom and limited government […]
Supplements Under Attack – Again!
One reason that industry regulation gets a bad rap, no doubt, is that so much bad regulation seems to get passed. It seems like for every sensible rule that gets proposed – for instance, the one that would require amalgam separators in all dental offices – we get another 9 like the one that’s working […]
The Ongoing Fight for Health Freedom
You may have heard the heartbreaking story of David and Collet Stephan, two Canadian parents now on trial for the death of their 19 month old son Ezekiel. The government claims that they failed to provide him “the necessities of life” after he became ill with what turned out to be bacterial meningitis. According to […]
More Thoughts on the Patient’s Right of Self-Decision
If we were going to brag a little big on our patients, we’d have to say that they’re exceptional. They’re informed – and committed to staying informed so they can make wise health choices in line with their attitudes, values and beliefs. Acting on their right to make those choices, they take responsibility for their […]
The Patient’s Right of Self-Decision
In our experience, parents usually spend a lot of time researching the pros and cons of vaccination before deciding whether to opt out of some or all of the currently recommended vaccines. They consider the scientific evidence challenging the status quo. They talk with their family physician. They talk with other parents. They weigh their […]