Join the Neopoet online poetry workshop and community to improve as a writer, meet fellow poets, and showcase your work. Sign up, submit your poetry, and get started.

Western medicine:

Doctoring Obscure
With Medications Unsure
Affecting the Cure

Editing stage: 

Comments

I beg to differ in view.
As a Rhyku poem, it may be OK.
But, I do not like the title and body of the poem. The title alludes the centuries-old East-West confrontation, especially so, as you are painting a negative picture in the body of the poem. The medicine and the medical science should not be confused with the healthcare systems (eg. HMO). When it comes to the medical science and medicine there is nothing 'obscure' or 'unsure.' The medicines and the treatment regimens are scientifically well defined and FDA approved.
These days, there is no western or eastern medicine. There are modern medicine, traditional medicine, and alternative medicine, and all are scientifically researched and refined all the time. This is a universal scenario.

The East-West and North-South cultural and political conflicts are there. But, in the world of science, there is no East, West, North or South. Science is borderless. So is the medicine. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999. We can find them in every battlefield and front.

Regards,

xxxxx

Recently there was a BBC article abut super bugs that stated that doctors were attempting to cure the infection with a host of antibiotics that ended up with patients dying of infection exacerbated by the antibiotics. This was a BBC article. While your affinity / affiliation with a medical system is your entitlement, it does not gel with the facts on the ground. Many experienced professionals practicing the Allopathic (Western) medicine have come to the conclusion that just overdosing patients with antibiotics does not cure the disease but ends up killing the patients. We need a Holistic medicine model (the model that was practiced in Eastern nations for Millennia) that treats the individual as a whole and does not have side effects that are always present in Allopathic medicines that target one specific area but end up attacking all the surrounding areas. As a person who recently suffered the loss of several family members to the rotten Allopathic system, I think I have some firsthand experience with what ails Western medicine. The root cause of the problem is in allowing corporate money to infect doctors and pharmacies that ends up with billing and bilking patients taking priority over the welfare of patients. Doctors literally make a killing and patients end up dead - this is dead wrong..

author comment

You have every right to make your own decision and to cherish your own view.

xxxxx

The Nobel Prize was established as act of atonement by Alfred Nobel since he was contrite for having made his wealth through the invention of dynamite The Nobel Peace Prize has lost its lustre over the years having being awarded to several war criminals so the fact that someone is a recipient of an award is not a true indication of worth but more of political convenience.

author comment

You have every right to express in the way you feel good and entertain your views in the way you feel right. I join neopoet.com to learn and enjoy poetry, but not to indulge in any form of argument or debate. I just now understand that I am in a wrong place to learn poetry.

xxxxx

The drug development is a risky and lengthy process. With the thought that you may like to take a look into the matter, I give a link here - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19729922.

"doctoring" and "medication" are parts of the delivery system, but nothing to do with the 'western' or 'medicine.' The West and the medicine (which is a general term for the medical science) have nothing to do with the healthcare delivery system of a given institute, wherever or whoever it may be.

xxxxx

You have provided a reasoned and seasoned response. You are a man of all directions and all seasons.

Having observed the toxic and fatal effects and side-effects of Allopathic medicine on several family members by mercenary and avaricious doctors who charged hefty medical fees for over-medicating patients with a host of tablets and injections, these medical crooks violated the prime medical directive "First Do No Harm". These problems only arose with the entry of corporations and big pharmaceutical companies that essentially are drug suppliers to the medical drug pushers. There is no accountability for doctors who trifle with the most precious commodity - human lives. In most other professions, the persons who do not perform as expected can be removed from their jobs but only very rarely for doctors.

author comment

where I am from we have a doctor shortage
people end up going to clinics or emerg
four hour waits
and in the past doctors are lenient to dispense
due to the mis use of meds
worried about lawsuits...not as bad up here
as in states..but they cover their own ass

I have seen people over medicated with
lithium...neglected...often resulting in
death....not pure negligence
but the rule is too check the net.
try to not wait until some illness gets too
bad....
even now the doctors are flooded with the
new drugs to help..they ask..."Look for
something that may help...bring me the link
paper printed.."
so many side results...
and always get a second opinion
not even two hundred years and look
at where medicine was..
to where it is now!

there are super bugs..
but in the past people were dropping
like dlies due to Tuberclioses
and typhoid....
syphlus incurable
even AIDS people live long lives
with a stream of drugs
and always cancer
some get free of it
even Hepatitis
many are getting that
dose of new medicine
and they show no
signs of the active
bug in them..
not always works
for everyone...but

just a race...
bacteria and viruses
mutate and adapt
and mankind if some
believe create in labs
new genetic strains
that often escape
by accident or nefarious
beings...

they just brought in a
new shipment of chimps
Saw this on the news late
last night..so there
will always be new testing
going on...

I think it is always wise to
question authority

Thank U for this perspective
poem
very well written!

Mr Esker!

My dear Esker

You may blame and question a doctor or the doctors, a hospital or the hospitals, but you cannot put the blame on the "western medicine." It may be a well-written poem. However, its theme and context are flawed. It is an insult to the scientific and medical community at large. Questions? Yes, questions are welcomed. But, this poem is not a question.

xxxxx

rather confusing....not sure if your adressing my comment to the poem
or Your poem....I dont get it then the Western Medicine theme...
its not clear too me..sorry!
to make it clear to You....I did not question Your poem or call it that...
I wrote to question authority..Period!

well...keep trying!

thank U!

Esker and Vivovon are both correct in their opinions and are arguing over the content of my Rhyku written based on my view. I have observed doctors practicing in US, Canada, Europe and Asia and they were all Allopathic (Western) medical personnel. I have also been to traditional medical practitioners and seen the patients who only utilize traditional sources of healing. In my opinion, Western medicine is inundated with medicine manufactured by corporations (mostly based in the West or by local corporations). The plethora of medication available and the pressure applied by corporate interests in many instances ends up with Allopathic doctors routinely prescribing multiple medications for any single ailment. Each of these medications has a listed cure and each of these medications has an abundant list of side-effects. Western medicine may have numerous dedicated and well-meaning doctors and several quacks, as in all forms of medicine, but the problem is in corporate profits pushing over medication over the welfare of patients. Just as in the outside world, surgical strikes end up with collateral damage and the side effects and collateral damage in Allopathic medicine is killing the patients -that is the current crisis facing practitioners of Allopathic medicine.

author comment

When you get sick make sure that you do not go to a doctor with a medical degree, MBBS, MD, FRCP, FRCS, and etc from a modern university. All these degrees are western. You now said of the big business. I suggest that you change the title to Western Business. You title "Western Medicine", which is followed by the bush beating text is an insult to the scientific and medical community at large. You may punish the thief and the robber, but not the public at large.

xxxxx

Good poem, you illustrated your opinion like a punchy headline.
I'd have been dead several times over had it not been for the medicine and practitioners you malign. Also the lives of those I love saved before my eyes. So I obviously don't agree with you, as I believe this absolutist black/white way of thinking is a shortcut to thinking. But this ain't a politics page, it's about the poetry. And the poem is good. Effective. Look at the discussion it has generated.

Glad the good medical practitioners of Allopathic medicine were able to save you and your loved ones. My take is based on my personal experience, losses and views. Based just on over-medication prevailing in Allopathic medicine, a paraphrased quote from Voltaire might be relevant here: "I disagree with what you say, but will defend to the death your right to say it." Thanks for your input and welcome to all comments.

author comment

Poets and poems are not above the law or the norms.

xxxxx

excellent....side effects for sure.
im on zombie meds to sleep and operate
I have panix attqcks
and my mind spins off on far out ideas
if I dont have enough rest..etc...
I do agree that pharma companies keep
the docs in business and at least
they try Unlike the true money grubbers
with false claims misleading the doomed
to some kind of hope via money...

I studied cults for years
and spent cermoney time with a few
Not my cup of tea mind U
but they exist!
they draw people in

the old folklore herbs and rites
work...as does the bad magic
or spells for love..misfortune
curses etc....I saw this and believe
in its power too....

I would have died of pneumonia too
and almost got OD's..came in with
an overdose intentional and the meds
to stop me from thrashing on the gurney
combined put me in mini coma..but
god saved me.....I should be dead
they were worried...
a good wake up too get a grip on
my demons in my head
and past of which we all have one...

a brilliant mind in high school advised
me to read Voltaire which I enjoyed
immensely...the renaissance was a
fantastic period of history...
francis bacon etc...

go running to the shelter for the mommas
little helper

club scene..Molly and girls with baby soothers
when the drug give em lock jaw...
and the new Dragonfly drug
more intense then lsd...
extasy which I have never tried
I dont like crack...my prefered drug
of choice is Booze..alcohol
which is just a horrible with
extreme results

it is unfortunate that for docs
to make oodles of money for
travel and trophy wives..send
their kids too harvard
and pay for the porche
requires much output of
scripts...and many misuse
their scripts...trade...etc
survival is harsh..
but meds help
cured my clap
back in the day
actually countries without
meds suffer the most
why everyone wants to
get to north america
and we have ohip so
expensive drugs are
often covered

I take Tremocet for pain
bad arthritis in shoulder
from torn ac joint and
then broken clavicle
which never healed
horrid gnawing ache
I pay eighty dollars a
month...thats like two
too three days of
decent good food
that I fork over too
live happy and ache
free...

but your poem is
about the negative
side of the game
and its a good poem!

thank U for the clarification

It is misinformation that the doctors earn a large sum of money. Here, is the info from the internet.

Average Salary for People with Jobs as Physicians / Doctors
$207,948

Job National Salary Data
Family Physician / Doctor 1167 salaries $166,381
Physician / Doctor, Internal Medicine 1119 salaries $179,818
Physician / Doctor, General Practice 724 salaries $135,923
Physician / Doctor, Emergency Room (ER) 568 salaries $207,948

Please compare these salaries with other professions. For example, a real estate agent can earn up to one million a year. We have Donald Trump as the example. In the field of IT, a webmaster earns more than a doctor.
Please do not overlook that it takes 20 years of schooling plus 6 years of internship and training to get a medical license and board certified in the United States, not to mention that the student has to maintain a grade between 3.5 and 4 all the way. Each doctor with a MD degree has to pay back $200,000 to $300,000 of financial aid. It generally takes up to 10-15 years to pay back the debt. On the top of that malpractice insurance is a big burden on the doctors. Under these conditions, I am disgusted to find a poet bush beating and blaming the medicine in general.

xxxxx

whores of words
true..
the students they advice...er advice are the ground pounders taking up the
spewing entrail of knowledge and digesting it for driving their own engines
to good...I know a professor...a talent..
it was like art teachers at the art school..those not producing works were
called failed artists...however...someone has to bear the torch..
and many of them enjoyed their leachery with students..
the power....like anything power corrupts
I dont have to hide my face
in fact its a passport
people listen...
crowds swerve
a gift like the poetry

interesting because this poem is not
dead set against the physicians
but a perspective that those whose
lives were affected by shoddiness
reflects this
I have met many shoddy doctors
and met many great doctors

its a poem
I know a few doctors and lawyers
whom I still chat with out there
they like how I interact with people
I never jam as much back
and I hate bullies and self
important noobs

i find them Disgusting

but I love poets
and poets passionate
to take the risk in
writing what they feel

Thank U
Original..U are Original

Vivovon, one of the side effects of my Rhyku on Western medicine seems to have given you indigestion and hit a raw nerve to boot. I appreciate all your valiant efforts to represent your medical colleagues in a positive light. Based solely on my firsthand experience with Allopathic doctors in three nations, I stand by my comments. Having suffered personal loss, I have very strong feelings on this issue. Let us agree to disagree.

Esker, appreciate your supportive comments.

To all reviewers, I would like to respond to all comments and bearing in mind that the format is Rhyku - three short lines with a title - I would request all comments be concise so that I can respond to all comments. Thanks and look forward to your reviews in the next poems I will
be submitting soon.

author comment

The title of the poem is not a western professor or a western doctor. It is "western medicine." In my first comment, I said I do not like the title. If the title is ' A Western Professor' or 'A Western Doctor' the perspective of the poem will be clear and carries relevancy. Neopoet is for critical comment. I put up a critical comment.

xxxxx

I love this poem
time to task the
medicine
time to bring those
who need to be
brought up on it
forward

time to hunt for
truth and answers

everyone is accountable
no one can hide
for the sins

see how they Take their own Medicine!

thank U for this beautiful
exquisite poem!

Although you have expressed the fact that I have the freedom of expression and art, including poetry, is about artistic freedom, I can see that you want to have the last word on my personal experience and views. I appreciate your review of the poetry but the content is mine alone and I think it is patronizing to ask poets to change their ideas. The reviews should be regarding the poem's style, grammar and poetry formats not about the poet;s choice of title or contents. That is what freedom of expression in a democratic forum is all about.

author comment

I am glad that you all agree this is a democratic forum. I am glad that you stand by your own view. I am equally glad that I have put up view strong and firm. That is long enough. So Long.

xxxxx

very diplomatic..much aplomb!

Esker!

New article on BBC News. My views vindicated by leading Western media news source about dangers and side effects of Western medicine. I rest my case.

author comment
(c) Neopoet.com. No copyright is claimed by Neopoet to original member content.