You're right!
Hi again charityfundraiser,
You're absolutely right about this:Retro smile::
Yeah, actually when I said the scientists (student or not) opinions are more important than patients' opinions, I didn't mean necessarily who is right, but the fact is scientists' opinions carry more weight and action.
And this is totally true historically and well - yeah - today. The "establishment" still gives credence to folks with
the right initials behind their name. But there are dents in the armor.
The age of Patient Empowerment
We're really in a renaissance period now though in medicine and science ... the internet has enormously empowered us patients, by giving us access to the same scientific papers that our doctors are (often not) reading. Good advocacy organizations combine astute patient insights with new clinical developments. I know of one organization in particular in Canada which works like the Chinese Triads. It's an astonishing synergy of biotech researchers working hand in hand with geneticists, working hand in hand with patients with rare diseases. It's actually the patients who
drive the research agenda, because they are able to identify the key aspects of the "natural history of the disease" (for us, I'd wager Post-Exertional Malaise) that need therapeutic targets.
All this to say that thankfully there are signs that some physicians/researchers/biotechs DO recognize the power and insight of patients in driving relevant, impactful translational medicine.
But still... patients have no credibility (usually)!
But you're right - I can't count the number of times that I went into a specialist's office, only to have my assembled Parvovirus B19 research summaries derided. As a patient, I'm a nobody - even if I know the PVB19 research better than most Canadian physicians - and even if used to work in allied health!
A cool article in Psychology Today - needs rebuttal!
Gotta search out those non-ego-centred physicians - like Peterson. As an aside a recent edition of,
Psychology Today had a rant article called, "Homo Consumericus: I'm not a Doctor, But..., available at:
http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200911/homo-consumericus-i-m-not-doctor . The writer was outraged that common people - or worse, celebrities - participate in science and medical debates.
" Most celebrities have at best graduated from high school. Hence, it is quite extraordinary that they should feel sufficiently knowledgeable to contribute to complex issues in physics, psychiatry, medicine, and biology. Here is a thought: Entertain us at the movies and in concert halls,
and leave the science for scientists."
Yea, but what about real estate developers with profoundly ill daughters who take matters into their own hands? And who may well turn out to be right - and turn the "common knowledge" of experts-with-the -right-initials on its head? Interestingly, in ranting against the arrogance of celebrities in taking up medical causes, the author of the
Psych Today article fell into the same trap.
Blind arrogance that mere serfs - albeit pretty and handsome ones (i.e. celebrities) - are sometimes more right than the medical establishment. Who'd a thunk?
Thank HEAVENS for real estate developers and their families!:victory:
