Despite the fact that the United States spends more on medicine than any other nation, the country is facing a health care crisis as its health care system is in danger of collapse.

The current health care system is increasingly failing patients and medical staff, and its flaws could become evident in the event of a biological attach, according to neuroscientist-physician Dr. Floyd Bloom, president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

The American health care system needs to be redrawn, according to Bloom, and there are four major reasons why:

• Costs of medications are exceeding the ability of employers to pay for them
• Patients are not satisfied with their care
• High rates of malpractice insurance are demoralizing physicians about the practice of medicine
• It is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit nurses

Other reasons mentioned include rising health insurance premiums, shortages of expertise in a number of specialties and outdated methods of information management.

Another major flaw in the system is its reliance on hi-tech surgical procedures and drugs. The system is "reactive" in that it waits until someone is sick and then looks for a way to solve the problem. Preventive medicine, rather than drugs and surgeries, should be the foundation for the system.

Communication is also a problem. For example, there are more than 10,000 drugs available for treating the increasingly elderly population. Many of these drugs can cause interactions, but patients typically see several doctors who do not know what drugs the others are prescribing.

One overriding theme is that simple measures should be taken first, rather than waiting for hi-tech discoveries to change the system. Human genome research is an over-anticipated breakthrough that is not likely to provide any dramatic results for years, according to Bloom. There are simpler things that can, and should, be done right away that can produce significant benefits.

British Medical Journal February 22, 2003;326:416

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Part of the problem with the health care system is unhappy doctors who are a direct result drug company brainwashing. Drug companies have enormous influence on physicians through many billions of dollars of marketing resources. Most physicians don’t realize that the drug companies are spending (on average) $10,000 to influence their behavior. They, of course, do not receive a check, but the perks are quite significant. This influence through subsidizing studies in major journals, educational seminars, and of course direct marketing through drug reps and ads continues to reinforce the belief that drugs are the answer to people’s health problems. More and more doctors are becoming progressively dissatisfied. They understand subconsciously that the system does not work, and they are merely perpetuating the problem rather than solving it. Unhappy doctors are a worldwide phenomenon. Consider that: Several reports from around the world describe declining morale among doctors Workload and pay, though important, do not fully explain the problem A key factor seems to be a change in the psychological contract between the profession, employers, patients, and society so that the job is now different from what doctors expected Developing a new contract that is more acceptable to the profession is important Clinical leaders have a potentially crucial role in developing a new contract It is my hope and passion to facilitate a revolution in information technology that will allow more and more people to understand that they have far more control of their health outcomes with simple and inexpensive options. You can certainly contribute to this effort by serving as a role model for what is possible and applying the nutrition guidelines personally. If any of your friends or relatives express an interest for further information you can always suggest this newsletter as a resource to further their growth in health. Related Articles: Unhappy Doctors: What Are the Causes and What Can Be Done Most Doctors Are Not Happy In Their Jobs How Pharmaceutical Companies Use Enticement to 'Educate'