Greg, I think children need special protection. The FDA should have such control and some equivalent protection for minors here is needed [it exists, but such situations as Liam's are not simple]. The key is to prosecute frauds such as the alternative therapists who make unfounded claims to defraud people.
But adults who are competent to run their own lives in normal spheres should have the power to choose how they run or end their lives. People who are otherwise wards of the State or whose affairs are run by powers of attorney due to inability to run their own affairs [such as the comatose or intellectually handicapped] are a different matter and could also come within the ambit of FDA protection [or the NZ equivalent].
If people go mountain climbing, car racing, smoke cigarettes or do other risky things, some of them will die from it. That's their choice. Same with taking treatments which might or might not cure them.
If quacks push snake oil, they should be accountable to a court and if fraud is proven, off they go to jail. Same as any fraud. If products are sold like cigarettes - "Try this out, you might like it, but there are unknown risks and also some known risks - MAKE SURE YOU HAVE FULLY CONSIDERED THE RISKS", then I see no problem. Life's an experiment and the FDA can't stop that. They just turn it into a 5 year plan, Centrally Planned Economy, USSR type system of bureaucrats, which is proven to be stultifying and detrimental to progress and human happiness.
People who want the security of the FDA could continue to use only products with the imprimatur of the FDA "This Product Approved as Follows". Then everyone could be happy. People who want to try magnets on their earlobes could give it a go. As long as they were not defrauded, then they would have only themselves to blame. Of course sellers of such things would need to have themselves well protected against claims of fraud because when people die or the treatment fails, they'll start whining like 747s and hire a lawyer.
I'm well aware of the amount of 'alternative' medicine. It amazes me what a high proportion of people are interested in it and pay real money for it. I buy vitamins, so I suppose I come into that category, but there are some really crazy 'alternative' ideas. But to me, it's a free world. If they want to go mountain climbing, good luck!
Sure, doctors are human. I understand mistakes. What I object to is people retaining power for themselves when they are only human and cannot handle a situation better than a person who chooses to handle it themselves. I am forced to use the Medical Guilds Feats of Clay whether I want to or not. For an adult, the Medical Guild should be an advisor, not the boss with sole access to the means of survival.
Cotara, to stick to the topic, is the sole chance of somebody with Glioma [as far as I know] yet they are not allowed the product and many will die this week from glioma. They might have the money and a willing doctor and Techniclone might be willing to supply, but they are denied the treatment even if they want it.
That makes no sense to me.
Sure, patients if they wish should make diagnoses on their own. I have 4 children and I've made hundreds of diagnoses on my own for them and me. My diagnoses have a better record than the medical profession's! Well, not the actual diagnosis, but the recognition that 'this is not the usual run of events and this lump/brown mark/diarrhoea/cough needs serious and immediate investigation'. Also, 'p53 mutations are a real marker for chemotherapy failure', which was news to the oncologist. As was the approval of Rituxan by FDA.
Doctors do not have a monopoly on knowledge or thinking. They are too much in a hurry and their underlying assumption is usually that the problem will be the common and less harmful disease. So Meningitis is often diagnosed as flu, lymphoma as 'glands are up', melanoma as 'keep an eye on it', haemangioma [in the left ventricle - 50mm tumour!! bet you've never heard of that] as indigestion, etc, etc ad nauseum. They should assume the worst diagnosis and exclude it. Not assume the benign and common diagnosis and hope it goes away.
These are not hearsay cases I'm mentioning. These are close up and personal.
Before you think me a wild self-diagnoser, we all have to decide daily whether some glitch is serious enough for treatment or not. I err on the side of getting expert opinion and if that opinion doesn't make sense, which is frighteningly common, I look for 'more expert' opinion, which thankfully, is usually available.
I think the carnage is already huge with the FDA rules and people's frustrated seeking of 'alternative' treatment and ignoring what they see as an insensitive, self-interested Medical system. People do not believe that the Medical Associations are for the patient's interest. We all see the protection of hopelessly incompetent medical practitioners who have made absurd mistakes or committed acts of gross negligence. I think the carnage would actually be less with a fully free and open medical system.
The car repair industry is an example. There are incompetent mechanics, but most business is transacted by professional repairmen in quality controlled environments. Not many people seek alternative treatment, though there are many if you judge by AfterMarket additives and so on, which is mostly money down the drain and some of which are damaging to the vehicle.
If there are 106 treatments for brain cancer then why not let people choose which treatment they want? The FDA could advise people on which they should choose. The companies could agree or disagree to provide treatment to people depending on whether they think it the best treatment [they better have some data to justify providing the treatment or risk being prosecuted for fraud - if it is total guesswork with no basis in previous experience, they'd better explain that and get agreement in writing].
Then the best salesman and the best treatment would win. That's how it should be. The FDA, Priesthood Guild or Independent Medical Consultants could be independent advisors to inform people on their best treatment. The salesman would ensure their company's treatment and data was given due consideration.
Seems easy to me.
If somebody wants to take a mixture of herbal remedies, that's their choice too.
Thanks for the informed and reasoned comments. Freedom is dear to the hearts of many people and some claim wars have been fought in the name of liberty, freedom, self-determination and individualism. Some say the USA constitution has that orientation.
Are you saying the Cotara Phase I survivors, to now, can go straight on to further treatment? I had no idea there were 106 good trials underway.
Maurice |
