Imagine: If a heavily regulated and scrutinised industry can get the odd bad egg - how many bad eggs are there in a unregulated unscrutinised industry?
This is really relevant and one of the things that concerns me.
Actually, GP's
DO get kickbacks for prescribing drugs, whether it be in the form of money, holidays, etc. I have a friend who is a sales rep for a drug company which I will not name. Her job is to go around to Pharmacist's, GP's and doctor's and convince them to sell her companies drugs. They receive many incentives, and even get extra incentives for meeting a certain quota.
Could you clarify here whether you are suggesting the drug rep gets the incentives for meeting a quota, or the doctor for prescribing a quota?
And if it's the rep, then clarify what you mean by 'meeting a quota':
i.e. do you mean the number of doctors she sees or the volume of drug which goes out of the company's warehouse in her area?
My g/f is a qualified naturopath (Bach of Sci, Naturopathy) and is registered, however she no longer works in the industry. The amount of clients she used to have that would come in complaining about side affects from drugs prescribed from GP's were unbelievable - GP's prescribe far too easily.
I agree that most GP's prescribe too readily. It's pressure of time which is a pity.
Re your g/f seeing so many unhappy clients, you have to bear in mind that she's only seeing those who have had unsatisfactory results from conventional medicine, or - more likely imo - those who for their own reasons are predisposed against conventional medicine, i.e. those who automatically distrust something which is "a drug" compared to what they think is pure and beautiful because it contains various plant materials.
Good that your g/f has a Bach Science. Where does the naturopathic qualification come from? Presumably either The Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association, or the Australian Traditional Medicine Society?
Who sets the standards of education for either/both these organisations?
I could set up, say, "The Australian Association of Nutritional Wellness", devise a bit of education in nutrition, invite students to undertake my course (at a fee of course), and when they have passed it, confer on them the qualification "Member of the Australian Assn of Nutritional Wellness, Hons."
Wouldn't necessarily mean squat, but will appeal hugely to those who are into 'natural therapies'.
Now, Gav, I'm sure your g/f is well educated and I'm not having a go at you or her in any personal sense.
I just don't see - unless the industry is regulated by the TGA as is the medical industry - that the public can reasonably have confidence in either the practitioners or their products.
The most common was for blood pressure related medication. NOT ONE GP recommended for the patient to commence aerobic activity,
How big is the sample here? Not one out of how many?
which is one of the most favorable resolutions for lowering high blood pressure.
Agree, along with weight reduction.
My g/f seen more than 20 ppl for blood pressure related problems last year, only one needed to go back on medication prescribed by their GP. Aerobic activity, and supplementing with magnesium and hawthorn berry was all she advised (as well as having their blood pressure checked regularly). No longer are those people dependent on drugs.
20 people over a whole year is not exactly a large number! A GP would be likely to see possibly 20 people in a day with BP related problems, certainly more than 20 in a week.
What's the role of magnesium and hawthorn berry in reducing BP?
However one thing that worries me is that in some areas of the USA, naturopaths are allowed prescribe hormone replacement therapies. This is concerning because the majority of naturopaths do not have enough training in the area. But then again, it is no different to GP's prescribing hormone and thyroid medication, when they do not have the proper training to do so either. When getting a blood test for thyroid and/or testosterone, a GP will simply request an overall thyroid count and total testosterone count. NEITHER OF THESE give the full picture and can lead to a wrong diagnosis.
Unfortunately a relative of mine was diagnosed with over active thyroid. Even though multiple blood tests from different GP's came back fine, it wasn't until he seen a specialist that the problem was discovered. By then he had lost 15KG in less than a month, and was skinny to begin with. The specialist recommended INJECTING RADIATION to kill off part of the thyroid
But they killed off too much. Now he has an under active thyroid and has put on over 45KG. Unfortunately, this cannot be reversed.
You describe one case. GP's successfully diagnose and treat thyroid problems all the time. I have an underactive thyroid which is easily managed with medication. So do many people.
I do not understand why people will use drugs or even have operations, when there are less invasive options. If those options don't work (and they don't work in every situation), then go and take the drug or have the operation.
You're quite naturally expressing your own view, Gav, and I respect that.
But most people prefer to take the advice of a registered medical doctor in an industry that is properly regulated and to use medication that has been through rigorous clinical trials before being approved for release.
I find it strange that people are complaining about the need for naturopaths to be registered, when Australia allows people like Doctor Death in QLD to practice. And another doctor in QLD (cant recall his name) has been found guilty of many sexual assault charges, has served his time and is now allowed to practice again!
Now that is just a silly comparison. You have two dysfunctional individuals who have been dealt with by the system. Pity, of course, they were not sorted out before they did so much damage. Queensland Health are too busy covering up all their stuff ups to actually respond to patient complaints.
The pathological behaviour of two doctors has no relationship to the whole body of natural therapists being required to be regulated and held accountable.
If you are seeing a naturopath and concerned about their qualifications, simply ask them to provide proof they are registered with the The Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association, or the Australian Traditional Medicine Society. If they can't, then there is a possibility they are not appropriately qualified, and you should go elsewhere.
As above, neither of these registrations would reassure me.