If you think your medical doctor knows all (and can't wait to tell you about it), think again. Hundreds of thousands of patient deaths inadvertently induced by a physician, surgeon, medical treatment or diagnostic procedure are recorded each year. More than 420,000 are attributable to adverse drug reactions and/or medical error; 37,136 are associated with unnecessary procedures; and 32,000 are surgery-related.
As if these numbers aren't unsettling enough, more disturbing are the results of a recent survey of more than 2,500 medical doctors in the U.S. and Canada regarding professional accountability. Medical doctors were given five hypothetical error scenarios and a set of scripted, possible explanations. Only 42 percent of the participating medical doctors said they would explicitly tell patients when a medical error occurred. Fifty-six percent would mention the adverse event to a patient, but not an error specifically. Sixty-three percent said they would opt not to provide any information about preventing future errors. And a mere 19 percent said they would not volunteer any information whatsoever about the cause of the error.
If you're feeling disillusioned about traditional medical/pharmaceutical care, there is an alternative. If you're looking for personal, individualized and drug-free wellness care, look no further than your local chiropractic office. Only you can be held accountable for your own health and well-being! Visit your chiropractor today. For a complete overview of chiropractic care, go to www.chirofind.com.
Resources:
- Gallagher TH, Garbutt JM, Waterman, AD, et al. Choosing your words carefully; how physicians would disclose harmful medical errors to patients. Archives of Internal Medicine, Aug. 14/28, 2006;166(15):1585-93.
- Null G, Dean C, Felman M, et al. Death by medicine. Life Extension, August 2006:67-87.
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