Dear Editor,
Re.: Integrated Medicine, BMJ 2001;322:119-20 (20 January)
I read the letter from Roger A. Fisken on the above subject in the South
Asia Edition of BMJ of September 2001. I could not resist my desire to air
my views.
As doctors we are concerned with the welfare of our patient. Common
sense dictates that doctor try his best to bring relief to the patient
irrespective of the kind of medicine. Normally, the current modern
medicine is by far the best type of medical treatment; but that does not
mean that it can treat anything and everything. But at times patient finds
relief from alternative medicines too.
Opponents of alternative medicine and integrated medicine are
invariably ignorant of what they are. They believe that only scientific
rationalism is acceptable and all the rest that do not fall in the
parameters of this scientific rationalism have no right to exist. However,
there are many things in this world that cannot be explained by the
scientific rationalism of the present days.
About 4-5 decades ago, British anaesthetists and surgeons ridiculed
at the acupuncture. But some amongst them wanted to opine only after they
see for themselves the practice of acupuncture. They visited China and
were stunned to see major surgeries being performed under acupuncture
anaesthesia (administered by choice of the patient). Suddenly the
procedure became acceptable though the anatomy, physiology or pathology of
modern medical science cannot explain acupuncture.
A well-known professor of urology in India has reported about his 76
years old relative who had an advanced, ulcerated, painful and smelly
carcinoma of breast. Professor’s spiritual Guru gave her "vibhuti" (sacred
ash) and a "lingam". She was to drink the lingam water daily. To the
disbelief of her oncologist the lesion regressed, pain reduced and ulcer
started healing in a matter of weeks!
Let not rationalists ridicule the old beliefs; they were relevant at
that period of time. Modern medicine itself had many that appear
shamefully irrational now. Take for example the extended radical
mastectomy (commando operation) of the past in comparison to present
breast saving procedures or total gastrectomy of the past and non-surgical
treatment of the present for DU.
As for betrayal, the commercial forces of health care industry are
such that they influence the practitioners of modern medicine in such a
way that thousands of patients are betrayed daily by practitioners of
'evidence based' practice.
A scientific person needs to be humble that he does not know it all
rather than be arrogant. Ancient Rigveda quotes “let noble thoughts come
to us from every side”.
Rapid Response:
Patient's welfare needs help from everywhere
Dear Editor,
Re.: Integrated Medicine, BMJ 2001;322:119-20 (20 January)
I read the letter from Roger A. Fisken on the above subject in the South
Asia Edition of BMJ of September 2001. I could not resist my desire to air
my views.
As doctors we are concerned with the welfare of our patient. Common
sense dictates that doctor try his best to bring relief to the patient
irrespective of the kind of medicine. Normally, the current modern
medicine is by far the best type of medical treatment; but that does not
mean that it can treat anything and everything. But at times patient finds
relief from alternative medicines too.
Opponents of alternative medicine and integrated medicine are
invariably ignorant of what they are. They believe that only scientific
rationalism is acceptable and all the rest that do not fall in the
parameters of this scientific rationalism have no right to exist. However,
there are many things in this world that cannot be explained by the
scientific rationalism of the present days.
About 4-5 decades ago, British anaesthetists and surgeons ridiculed
at the acupuncture. But some amongst them wanted to opine only after they
see for themselves the practice of acupuncture. They visited China and
were stunned to see major surgeries being performed under acupuncture
anaesthesia (administered by choice of the patient). Suddenly the
procedure became acceptable though the anatomy, physiology or pathology of
modern medical science cannot explain acupuncture.
A well-known professor of urology in India has reported about his 76
years old relative who had an advanced, ulcerated, painful and smelly
carcinoma of breast. Professor’s spiritual Guru gave her "vibhuti" (sacred
ash) and a "lingam". She was to drink the lingam water daily. To the
disbelief of her oncologist the lesion regressed, pain reduced and ulcer
started healing in a matter of weeks!
Let not rationalists ridicule the old beliefs; they were relevant at
that period of time. Modern medicine itself had many that appear
shamefully irrational now. Take for example the extended radical
mastectomy (commando operation) of the past in comparison to present
breast saving procedures or total gastrectomy of the past and non-surgical
treatment of the present for DU.
As for betrayal, the commercial forces of health care industry are
such that they influence the practitioners of modern medicine in such a
way that thousands of patients are betrayed daily by practitioners of
'evidence based' practice.
A scientific person needs to be humble that he does not know it all
rather than be arrogant. Ancient Rigveda quotes “let noble thoughts come
to us from every side”.
Sincerely Prabhu
Competing interests: No competing interests