Patriots boast that American
medicine is the best in the world. My view is more nuanced, but let me take
their point of view. You’ll be amazed at the dumb things foreign doctors do!
They don’t give antibiotics for
ear infections!
If a child suffers a painful ear
infection, the doctor prescribes an antibiotic. In many European countries,
doctors give medicines for pain and fever but no antibiotic. If you’re
wondering what happens to these poor European children, the answer is: they get
better. Even in America, many experts believe that antibiotics don’t work for
ear infections. It will take a lot more than expert opinion to persuade
American doctors to avoid antibiotics in ear infections. American doctors love
antibiotics as much as American patients.
They don’t care for hysterectomies!
Many women develop lumpy growths on the uterus called
fibroids which may cause pain and irregular menstrual bleeding. A gynecologist
can cure this by removing the uterus. It’s the second most common operation
American women undergo (after caesarians; America leads the world in both).
The French have the odd idea the world would be a
better place if there were more Frenchmen, so French doctors don’t sterilize
women if they can avoid it. Mostly, they perform an operation that cuts off the
fibroids but leaves the uterus intact. The surgery is more complicated and
takes longer than a simple hysterectomy. American gynecologists could do the
same, but they don’t, and they rarely discuss it with patients because they
know American women aren’t interested.
They don’t try to cure every patient.
American doctors order more tests and prescribe more
antibiotics, chemotherapy, and other powerful drugs than foreign doctors. They
also perform far more surgery. These extras don’t necessarily cure. Sometimes
they make patients sicker, but the important thing is that we’re doing
something. American like aggressive doctors.
Foreign doctors spend a great deal of time making
patients feel better – for example by ordering physical therapy (massage,
exercise, heat, baths). American doctors prescribe physical therapy to speed
recovery after surgery or injuries. European doctors prescribe it after
childbirth and for migraines, irritable bowels, arthritis, fatigue, depression
– dozens of problems.
European doctors actually send patients to health spas
for baths, massage, etc., and health insurance pays for it! If you believe this
is a waste of money, American doctors agree. Patients may feel better after a
spa treatment, they explain, but it’s psychosomatic (in other words, if someone
feels better -- but it’s only psychosomatic -- that’s not good).
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