Modern medicine has forgotten the essence of illness care
Prof. B. M. Hegde
“One of the first duties of the physician is to educate the masses not to take medicines.”– Sir William Osler
In the 21st century, I could only echo that great sentiment as a truism, despite the tall talk of the “so-called” evidence-based medicine. Napoleon Bonaparte went one step further, but one could argue that he was not a physician. Napoleon was at the receiving end of such a medical practice in Persia where he died. “Medicine is a collection of uncertain prescriptions the results of which, taken collectively, are more fatal than useful to mankind.” Napoleon, though, was more accurate scientifically today. The latest science says that uncertainty is the only certainty in the world. This is truer of medical science, if there is one. A proverb is a short sentence based on long experience. If that were so, this one from Voltaire takes the cake: “The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.”
Read more here: http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/article871055.ece
