E-Letter responses to:

editorial: C. Everett Koop The Future of Medicine Science 2002; 295: 233 [Summary] [PDF]

E-Letters: Submit a response to this article

Published E-Letter responses:

Future of Medicine: An Alternative View

John J. Morony   (18 January 2002)

Future of Medicine: An Alternative View 18 January 2002
John J. Morony, Biology Professor South West Texas Junior College Respond to this E-Letter: Re: Future of Medicine: An Alternative View	In "The Future of Medicine," Dr. Everett Koop notes that he has seen his share of what modern medicine can do. Unfortunately,so have some of the rest of us. The life-span of Americans has now plummeted from once having been near the top to 43rd in the world (1). Prescription drugs, even properly prescribed and administered, are now one of the leading causes of death in the United States--a death rate higher than automobile accidents! And what about health care quality? Worldwide the United States is rated 37th in "health care value" but is the highest in terms of per capita health costs of $4094. In contrast, France is rated number one in health value and second in per capita health costs with costs of only $2644 or 35.4% less than the United States (Medical Care Facts land Figures). When concern for an adequate intake of vitamins and minerals constitutes, in part, "alternative medicine," the problem of modern medicine is apparant. It must surely be the failure to appreciate the importanc of nutrition and the conviction that prescription drugs can be a substitute for the inadequacy of an essential nutrients. However, that is bad biolgy, and bad biology makes for even worse medicine. What is needed is for medicine to return to its biological roots and cease serving as a sales force for the pharmaceutical industry. References 1. CIA World Factbook, 1 July 2001.