One of the many things that causes frustration and disappointment for me in dealing with doctors is the obvious reality that "Medicine" is not practiced as, governed as, nor is it necessarily researched as, a scientific endeavor. Rather, "Medicine" operates similar to the way Academia operates. Rarely will we find a doctor who is willing (or even able) to look at a patient as a whole -- step outside the proverbial box and look at the big picture. The doctors seem to be limited to their checklists only. There is rarely any creative thought or analytical thinking. It's just a sloppy way to practice, in my opinion. Sloppy in thought and sloppy in deed.

And the condescending attitude -- well that is part and parcel to the world of Academia. If "Medicine" were practiced truly as a science, then we'd see the necessary creativity, analytical thinking and there would not be a closed society of short-sighted, non-analytical, doctor-robots.

Furthermore, I get the feeling that the souls who occupy themselves within the medical profession feel that unless one is an "M.D.-iety" one has no right, no priviledge, no ability to address any medical matter. As a whole, I see a group of self-satisfied automatons so swelled with their own sense of self importance that they are missing golden opportunities to truly heal. Too frequently they are simply on auto-pilot and conduct their practices and work without thought. If your not presenting with a symptom that's on the checklist -- then you're out of luck. And forget about new findings.

I suppose I should point out there there are precisely 3 physicians who have earned actual "pedestal" status with me. And believe me, I've had my fair shair of dealings with doctors over the 45 years I've been on this Earth. And I will be eternally grateful to them for their outstanding and uncharacteristic (for a doctor, that is) creativity and analytical thinking. I realize now that they were also extremely brave -- they were actually risking potential ridicule for being creative.

And I don't necessarily mean to bash Academia -- so, apologies to any of you who might be exployed in that area. It just strikes me as a rather closed society with severe limitations at times. The entire "peer" review thing has me baffled sometimes.

Russ, I can just see a doctor or medical professional's response to your efforts -- with predictability, they'll attack any paradigm that they haven't heard of. And they will be incensed that a non-medical individual would have the temerity to penetrate the echelons of their hallowed and esteemed profession [typed with much sarcasm here].

I say, keep up the good work, Russ!!!!

I'll get off the soapbox. I could discuss these topics ad nauseum.

SomedaySOon