Too much medicine?

Is there really too much medicine? [1] It certainly seems to be a
convenient 'get out' for an overburdened medical service. But who gets to
lose out if services are 'reoriented' (withdrawn)? The 'effort' of medical
care does not only arise from providing the care itself but also from
providing it equitably. Surely there is a fine line between 'resisting the
categorisation of life's problems as medical' [1] and ignoring increased
morbidity in those who are more burdened by life's problems? So if you are
rich you shouldn't be depressed and your depression gets treated. If you
are poor (or old), your depression is a product of your disadvantage - and
of course it would be completely inappropriate to 'medicalise' poverty or
'understandable' unhappiness.

1. Moynihan R, Smith R. Too much medicine? BMJ 2002;324:859-60.