Don’t Follow the Money
Dr. Erika Schwartz, a New York internist, rightly chastises the New York Times for a long article about stroke (part of a series on major causes of death) that says nothing about prevention. Schwartz attributes the over-emphasis on treatment to relative cost: Treatment is far more expensive than prevention. Memo to Gina Kolata: Don’t follow the money.
This is a genuine problem with self-experimentation: It costs almost nothing. No status-enhancing grant is required to do it. One of many ways that science is at odds with human nature.
June 1st, 2007 at 12:44 am
Tell me about it!
June 6th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
Thank you Seth!
You are correct and your approach to helping people loose weight with natural, awareness enhancing methods works. I can attest to it and I am a conventional doctor who got fed up with a system that more often harms than helps.
DrErika
June 6th, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Thanks, Erica. “A system that more often harms than helps” — I think you have put your finger on the problem. The less obvious effects turn out to be more damaging than the more obvious effects are beneficial. I was watching a movie this morning that begins with an old man taking a handful of pills. “Please don’t let my old age turn out like that,” I thought to myself.