Doctors' strike in Israel may be good for health
BMJ 2000; 320 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.320.7249.1561 (Published 10 June 2000) Cite this as: BMJ 2000;320:1561
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The 1960's saw physicians in Canada go on strike and the mortality
rate dropped.
Los Angeles physicians associated with a USC hospital went on strike
in the 1970's and the mortality rate dropped.
Physicians went on strike in South America (Columbia?) later that
same decade and the mortality rate dropped.
Physicians have now gone on strike on 3 different occasions in Israel
--in the 1950's, again in the 1970's or 80's and now in the the year 2000.
In all 3 occasions the mortality rate has dropped, on one or two occasions
by 50%.
Conclusion? I'm sorry to say, but conventional, allopathic, (drug and
surgery happy) physicians remain very, very dangerous to our health
(recall the May, 1998 JAMA article reviewing deaths caused by Rx
medications given to American hospitalized patients? 106,000 deaths caused
by Rx drugs each year on average, making Rx drugs in American hospitals
the 5th or 6th leading cause of death! We badly need science-based
alternative medicine, don't we.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Fortunately for morticians the medical doctors do not strike too
long. During these short periods of protest the business of morticians
is devistated.
Competing interests: No competing interests
I have heard of this before. After one physician strike resulted in
a lower death rate, the morticians negotiated a settlement since their
income suffered.
Competing interests: No competing interests
I believe it was in Los Angeles County in the early 70's that the
same thing happened when doctors went on strike. The death rate dropped
measurably then, too.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Medical Harm
It doesn't surprise me death rates drop when doctors strike.
Adverse reactions to drugs plays a huge role, especially in countries
where Chemical Sensitivity is not well recognized.
More attention might be given to the unhealthy protectionist
relationship between doctors and drug companies which supply their "tools
of trade" and the further extension of this relationship between drug
companies and the actual owners of patient rights to many drugs which are
the Agvet pesticide manufacturers, and the impact of their toxic products
on human health.
The "relationship" is decidedly "unhealthy."
Rex Warren
President
Australian Chemical Trauma Alliance
Competing interests: No competing interests