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What Is Health Care's Ideology?

What's that saying? Evidence of ideology is not an ideology of evidence? Something like that...

In today's New York Times, emergency room physician Dr. David H. Newman discusses our deeply entrenched beliefs in treatments that, demonstrably, DO NOT WORK. Surgeries for back pain (a $20 billion per year business.) Beta-blockers for heart attacks. Antibiotics for ear infections. Dr. Newman reminds us that, intellectually, these things SHOULD work. They don't;
"Treatment based on ideology is alluring. Surgeries to repair the knee should work. A syrup to reduce cough should help. Calming the straining heart should save lives. But the uncomfortable truth is that many expensive, invasive interventions are of little or no benefit and cause potentially uncomfortable, costly, and dangerous side effects and complications.

"The critical question that looms for health care reform is whether patients, doctors and experts are prepared to set aside ideology in the face of data. Can we abide by the evidence when it tells us that antibiotics don’t clear ear infections or help strep throats? Can we stop asking for, and writing, these prescriptions? Can we stop performing, and asking for, knee and back surgeries? Can we handle what the evidence reveals? Are we ready for the truth?"
A recent letter-writer to the Wall Street Journal (a physician, go figure...) called users of complementary and alternative medicine "...scientific illiterates." If Dr. Newman is right, and I think he is, CAM users are not unique in preferring ideology and financial self-interest over science. Watch how his questions get answered...or not.


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Anonymous said…
Health Care Ideology is really a different concept for all. Good topic to discuss with all who are concerned with Primary Health Care Services around us.
April 3, 2009 at 8:58 AM
jeff h said…
What might be an interesting dimension in the 'ideology' discussion is the larger role of belief in healthcare outcomes...the placebo effect comes to mind as the most obvious example. But other beleifs...entitlements, technology, quality of life...aren't ideologies simply a set of strongly held beliefs? Even with data, maybe sometimes beleiving is seeing! :)
April 8, 2009 at 11:04 AM
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