Death By Prescription

The biting sarcasm of the 18th century French philosopher Voltaire took aim At medicine with these caustic words: “Physicians pour drugs”, he said, “Of which they know little, to cure diseases Of which they know less, into human beings Of which they know nothing”. One can argue, of course, that since then Medicine has advanced a great deal. And, no doubt, modern doctors nowadays Can perform miraculous operations, And have a prodigious pharmacopoeia From which they can choose and administer A variety of wondrous healing drugs That save many lives. Nevertheless, Voltaire’s critique Of medicine is still valid. His claims are borne out by the evidence Of statistics. Studies published, for example, By the American Medical Association Conclude that in the USA an estimated 12,000 people die annually Because of unnecessary surgery. Furthermore, over 100,000 patients die Yearly in hospitals as a result of medical Errors and infections, And more than 100,000 die Because of the adverse reactions To appropriately and correctly prescribed Medications. This means that iatrogenesis, Harmful medical treatments, Cause an estimated quarter million deaths Per year in the United States alone; A number, which renders medicine the third Leading cause of death in America, After heart disease and cancer. This also means that doctors kill More people than cars and murderers Do.