EP 38: What’s Wrong With Our Healthcare System in America Part 2

What’s wrong with our healthcare system in America?

In the second episode of this series, Dr. Agolli and Dr. Burdette discuss:

1. How to hold the government accountable for our healthcare system.
2. What went wrong with the American Medical Association.
3. Why you are not the label of your disease.
4. How many patients are injured annually by allopathic medicine?

Iatrogenic medicine refers to illness or injury caused by medical treatment. There are several dangers associated with iatrogenic medicine. For example, one study found that 18% of all iatrogenic disease was severe, 61.9% predictable, 54.5% avoidable, and 59% drug-related, 80% of which was due to side effects or adverse reactions¹. Infection and metabolic and electrolyte disorders were the most frequent effects¹

There are several common causes of iatrogenic illness. For example, one study found that 59% of iatrogenic disease was drug-related, 80% of which was due to side effects or adverse reactions¹. Another common cause of iatrogenic illness is drug interaction, when pharmacotherapists fail to check for all medications a patient is taking and prescribe new ones that interact agonistically or antagonistically².

Other causes of iatrogenic illness can include careless or deliberate exposure to the patient’s words or non-verbal means of expression, for example, facial expressions, gestures¹. Hastening to inform the patient about the diagnosis and its prognosis can also trigger iatrogenic diseases¹.

Naturopathic medicine is a system of healthcare that emphasizes the use of natural remedies and the body’s innate ability to heal itself. It focuses on treating the whole person and addressing the root cause of illness, rather than just treating symptoms. Naturopathic doctors often use a variety of treatments, including herbal medicine, nutrition, lifestyle counseling, and physical therapies.

Allopathic medicine, on the other hand, is the system of medicine practiced by most doctors in the Western world. It focuses on diagnosing and treating disease using drugs, surgery, and other medical interventions. Allopathic medicine is often criticized by proponents of naturopathic medicine for its reliance on pharmaceuticals and its tendency to treat symptoms rather than addressing underlying causes.

From a naturopathic perspective, allopathic medicine may be seen as overly reliant on drugs and other interventions that can have harmful side effects. Naturopathic doctors may also argue that allopathic medicine does not place enough emphasis on prevention and holistic approaches to health.

It’s important to note that both naturopathic and allopathic medicine have their strengths and weaknesses, and that the best approach to healthcare often involves a combination of both. This combination is often referred to as functional and integrative medicine. Progressive Medical Center offers functional and integrative medical care in Atlanta, Georgia.