User:CallahanCarlin

=Analytical Writing=

Personal Essay (REVISED)
Callahan Carlin Analytical Writing Personal Essay

When my grandfather was diagnosed with lung cancer his doctor didn’t even breach the subject of Naturopathic medicine. I spoke with my grandmother and suggested looking into the matter to see if there were any natural vitamins or supplements that he could be taking to help with nausea or the other symptoms that accompany Chemotherapy. My grandmother was very hesitant to even speak with the doctor, because he hadn’t suggested it first. She felt if there were any alternative options which would help; the doctor would have mentioned them. Is this really the case? In the end she chose not to pursue the issue. I can’t help but to wonder if it would have made a difference. Should my grandmother have been so blind in her faith?

Every day someone puts their life in the hands of a doctor somewhere. I have to ask myself if the doctors in today’s society have their patient’s best interests at heart. Of course, it is a case to case matter and it is impossible to categorize such a statement. However, when we examine the situation this country has created for itself and its healthcare, there are a number of variables that come into play. I have find myself constantly questioning the positions in which doctors are placed. I believe America makes it very difficult for doctors to be completely honest and compassionate. Doctors are typically over worked, over stretched and stressed. This makes an environment in which deceit can prevail. Insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies certainly do not have the best interest of the patient at heart. How can they? All they are required to see is the blank, generic face of the disease they are poking and prodding to find a ‘cure’. You cannot simply treat the disease, you must treat the person. Every human being is unique, and every one responds differently to medicine.

Many doctors around the country are supporting prescription drugs because the pharmaceutical companies paint them a beautiful picture of how wonderful these drugs are. Now, I’m not trying to say that every doctor in the country is ignorant, corrupt or money hungry enough to simply push any drug that someone puts in their hand. However, I don’t believe that they are all completely innocent. After all, money talks, and Pharmaceutical Companies make a huge amount of money every year. In 1999, the average of the fifteen top companies was $12,272,000! At the top of the list, Merck made $32,714,000. (Richard Laing, Department of International Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, Presented @ Durban South Africa AIDS Conference 11 July 2000 ).

Recently a CEO was convicted of trying to illegally market a drug for an unapproved use. “On Tuesday a federal jury convicted former InterMune CEO W. Scott Harkonen of mail fraud based on a 2002 press release about the company's drug Actimmune. Federal prosecutors argued that the press release was part of a scheme to illegally promote Actimmune as a treatment for idopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a use that had not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. (While doctors are free to prescribe drugs for such ‘off-label’ uses, manufacturers are not allowed to market drugs for unapproved applications.) After Harkonen's conviction, an FDA official declared that ‘today's verdict demonstrates that pharmaceutical executives will not be able to hide behind a corporate shield when they promote drugs using false or fraudulent information.’ ” (Sullum)

I think it is a wonderful sign that the judicial system is finally cracking down on some of the Pharmaceutical companies, who appear to have come to think they run this country and can do whatever they like. But if you read between the lines here, there is still a disturbing situation that is perfectly legal. “While doctors are free to prescribe drugs for such ‘off-label’ uses…” Why are doctors allowed to prescribe any drug they wish to anyone for “off-use” applications? Let’s not be so naïve as to think that corruption in the medical field does not exist. Hypothetically speaking, a doctor who is corrupt could issue any drug he/she likes to anyone who may or may not legitimately require it, purely for his or her own benefit. Let’s remember how much those pharmaceutical companies make each year; they would certainly be willing to share with the physicians who are contributing to their income.

Why is it also legal for a prescription drug to be sold for one application (for example say, Restless Leg Syndrome, with a side effect of fatigue), and if it doesn’t sell for this function, the drug companies turn around and market it as a sleep aide. On a related note, why is it perfectly acceptable for a drug which is meant to treat depression have a side effect of suicidal thoughts? Is that not defeating the purpose?

Americans are constantly being bombarded by advertisements for prescription drugs. From a young age the media, together with these pharmaceutical companies are programming the viewers to continually question their health. I find myself constantly wondering if I have the next trendy disease. Do I have restless leg syndrome? My legs sometimes tingle. Do I have ADD or ADHD? Many times I find it hard to concentrate. Do I have seasonal depression? I often find myself less than in a fantastic mood during the dark winter months. From what I see on TV I should be on several prescription drugs. Are we creating a nation of over medicated hypochondriacs? The next time you watch TV count how many prescription drug commercials air, and read the fine print. (SEE CARTOON) http://www.frankwbaker.com/drugads.htm

“4.65-billion Amount of consumer advertising spent by the pharmaceutical industry in 2005 $5.29-billion Amount of consumer advertising spent by the pharmaceutical industry in 2006 $4.20 Amount of additional sales each $1 in advertising generates 16 Average number of hours of prescription drug advertising Americans see each year” (TNS Media Intelligence, Kaiser Family Foundation, Journal of Health Communication via http://www.frankwbaker.com/drugads.htm)

These are only a couple issues that should be scrutinized and investigated regarding the pharmaceutical conspiracy in America. The problem is this infection permeates the government of this country. Unfortunately when I was asked to explore solutions to this crisis I was forced to imagine the government as it would be in a ‘perfect world’. This made me sick. Why should I have to imagine a country that is ‘for the people, by the people’? I was under the impression I lived and breathed this concept. In a perfect world the government would explore any form of medicine that would benefit its people. My grandpa’s doctor could have with ease told him what natural products would help arm him for the battle he was waging. I would like to believe that a large part of the reason doctors are not suggesting alternative medicine to aid prescription drugs is the fact that these methods are poorly researched. I would much rather put my faith in this honest reason than in a theory that involves corruption and deceit. In a perfect world the government would subsidize the research for Naturopathic medicine to better serve their people and in turn benefit from a healthier country. The sad truth is, this world is far from perfect.

The more I look into this subject the more helpless I feel. So many people legitimately need prescription drugs to maintain their health. While on the other hand, we have a nation full of drug abusers and legal drug pushers. How can we as a country eliminate the problems and corruption within this system when it is infected on so many different levels? Implementing Naturopathic remedies and making them more available through Health Insurance is only a meager effort in changing this ill system. America is diseased and prescription drugs are only one of the plagues infecting her. What can one person do to heal her infirmities?

Works Citied:

Baker, Frank. "Prescription Drug Marketing ads listed below were found in recent issues of." Media Literacy Clearinghouse: Resources for K-12 Educators. 04 May 2009. Web. 17 Nov. 2009. . Laing, Richard. "Pharmaceutical Company Profits and Salaries." ACT UP/New York. 1990. Web. 17 Nov. 2009. . Sullum, Jacob. "A Pharmaceutical Company's Truthful Fraud - Hit & Run :." Reason Magazine. 1 Oct. 2009. Web. 17 Nov. 2009. 

Self Assessment
This class was really an eye-opener for me. Throughout the course, with all the discussions I was really forced to analyze the world around me. The group projects really inspired me to become more informed about the things that are happening constantly around me. I did well when it came to writing the personal essay. I think I could have pushed my part of the group project a little further but overall I think it went well. In general, I’m not usually a huge fan of group projects and I would have liked to perhaps have a couple more personal assignments. I liked that there was a lot of discussion through the quarter within the class; it was good to be able to hear a wide variety of opinions and personal experiences from my fellow students. I really enjoyed hearing about the other groups issues and being able to discuss them.