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Even Doctors Have No Faith in Conventional Medicine
Posted by: Dr. Mercola
December 24 2000 | 2,211 views

Physicians are less likely than the general public to have a regular primary care provider and to have regular check-ups, according to a new study entitled "Physician, Heal Thyself?".

Researchers from Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut studied 915 doctors (mostly men) who graduated from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine between 1948 and 1964

  • They found that more than one-third had no regular source of medical care.
  • These doctors were less likely than other physicians to receive "preventive" care such as flu shots and routine cancer screening.
  • The authors stress that this trend is concerning, since doctors' own health habits may influence their recommendations to patients.


The doctors most likely to have a regular care provider were:

  • Psychiatrists
  • Pediatricians

The doctors least likely to have a regular care provider were:

  • Internists
  • Surgeons

  • Pathologists

Doctors' attitudes toward the power of medicine played an important role as well.

  • Those who said they strongly believe doctors and other health professionals influence their health were more likely to have a regular care provider.
  • Those who firmly believed they had their health in their own hands, as well as those who left it up to "chance," were less likely to regularly see a doctor.

Among doctors who did not have regular doctors:

  • 55 percent had been screened for colorectal cancer
  • 44 percent for breast cancer
  • 62 percent for prostate cancer
  • 59 percent had received flu vaccines

The percentage of doctors lacking a regular medical care provider is far higher than that found in the general population, the report indicates. Research shows that about 15% of Americans have no regular care provider, compared with 34% in this study.

Archives of Internal Medicine, November 27, 2000; 160: 3209-3214


Dr. Mercola''s Comments
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
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Here we have evidence that even doctors themselves are unconvinced of the benefits of conventional medicine. Surely if they saw its positive effects day after day, they would not hesitate to receive the same care themselves.

Many who receive this newsletter are health care professionals and would benefit from carefully reflecting on this information. In addition to the point made above, most people do not realize that symptoms of disease do not typically occur until one is 80% of the way towards the full-blown expression of the illness.

In the case of heart disease, this could be 100% as the most common symptom of heart disease is NOT chest pain, but sudden death. In other words there are no symptoms at all and then the next moment you are dead. This is a dramatic example as heart disease is commonly cited as the number one killer in this country (I actually believe it is negligence from traditional medicine and the reliance on the pharmacological paradigm).

But aside from preventing sudden death, life could be far more enjoyable when you are experiencing optimal health. However, I do believe it is wise for physicians to avoid seeing traditional physicians, as that paradigm is responsible for many of the deaths in this country.

Seeking care from a natural medicine clinician would clearly be the preferred option. Earlier this year I made a commitment to receive care from several doctors and every week I normally see one or two doctors to fine tune my health and the results have been remarkable.

One of the doctors I see uses primarily TBM (Total Body Modification) and the other uses cranial Osteopathy.
Prior to this I had no symptoms at all that disrupted my life and I could run rings around most people with all the energy I had. I did not think I could be much healthier, but I was wrong and I am very glad that I made that commitment.

I would encourage all of you to seek your health care from someone who is currently receiving care from another professional themselves. If they are not, you might want to consider switching your physician. None of us can stay optimally healthy by ourselves.

Related Articles:

Why Doctors Are 9,000 Times More Likely to Accidentally Kill You Than Gun Owners

DOCTORS NEED MORE NUTRITION TRAINING

DOCTORS FAST TO INTERRUPT PATIENTS' CONCERNS





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