Improving
the Quality of Health
by Bradford McIntyre
Not
to take away from the seriousness of HIV, but it is time to let go
of the fear!
How
we view disease, along with the constant bombardment of fear
associated with HIV is cause for alarm. We must educate ourselves,
those in the medical profession and our future doctors to address a
broader understanding and treatment of disease. The fear and terror
associated with HIV and the fact that the medical profession
continues to contribute to fear is the first thing we need to
overcome! Studies with healthy animals show that when subjected to
constant fear and stress they surrender the will to live. Countless
deaths of individuals infected with HIV can be attributed to fear.
Telling people they are going to progress to disease and die, just
because they have been infected with HIV is not true! Yet, these are
the messages continually expressed by many in the medical profession.
Even
with the latest drug treatments and decline in deaths, many in the
medical profession still convey information to patients in a way
that promotes fear. Patients are not recommended to take HIV drug
treatments, but patients are told to take the drugs or they will
progress to disease and die. Physicians should give test results and
recommendations for possible interventions and treatments and should
extend support without this negative dialogue. My concern is that
doctors often provide no hope!
In
1985, I was told by an AIDS specialist to go home, inform my family,
arrange my finances and funeral and that I had six months to live!
Large numbers of individuals have been given this inhumane death
sentence and this continues today! No one should be told he or she
has six months to live! Many may give up and not pursue healthy
initiatives since the situation was conveyed with less than a
hopeful dialogue. Unfortunately, this does not occur just with HIV,
but with many physicians who treat all types of illness. This
negative dialogue has seriously impacted upon many lives emotionally.
Is
it ethical in the diagnosis of disease, to give patients a probable
life expectancy? Patients are given negative messaging by the
medical profession and told they have six months to live or told
there is nothing more that can be done! Health professionals should
teach patients to take responsibility for their health and not to be
victims! Physicians should assist patients to live! It is important
to recognize an individual’s willpower. Many patients are told
that they will die and do! Many others discover through their will
and through the rediscovery of the purpose for being, the ability to
live! Often, they live for much longer periods of time than
predicted!
Individuals
involved in first aid, paramedics, doctors and nurses in emergency
rooms and hospitals, they all know first hand the importance to be
calm and give patients confidence, avoiding panic and fear! This is
equally important in a physician’s office and what physicians have
been taught and trained to do! It is extremely important for
physicians to convey test results and possible treatments accurately
and without personal opinions, sarcasm, ridicule and fear tactics!
Conveying all available treatments and means to provide help in a
supportive and positive way!
When
relaying information, doctors must presume that the patient does not
have any previous knowledge of their problem. Explanations of test
results or treatments should be given in a supportive tone,
non-threatening, non-fatalistic and non-judgmental. The language and
voice used to convey information is very important and a part of
what we call a ‘bedside manner’. It is even more important to
receive diagnostic information without personal opinions. Relaying
information to a patient ensuring they understand as much as
possible! NOT placing limitations on a patient's life! Making
individuals aware of how much control they have over their lives.
Consider to what extent information may undermine health and lack of
purpose, as well as affecting or undermining other areas of a
person's life. Many health professionals do nothing to eliminate
stress and contribute to that stress in avoidable ways.
There
are many people who are very much in touch with their bodies and
know what is going on in their body. The medical profession can
recognize this, rather than dismissing it entirely and relying only
on medical knowledge and resources.
Ron
Rosenes, a Board Member of the Canadian Treatment Action Council
says, “One of the hallmarks of western or allopathic medicine is
the belief, proven with microscopes in the 19th Century, that germs
cause disease and that killing germs or in this case HIV virus, is
the best way to restore health.
CAM
practices generally strive to promote healing by viewing the
individual as a part of a larger framework that includes body, mind,
spirit and environment.”
Many
people who are in touch with their bodies have incorporated
nutrition, exercise, controlling stress, herbal and dietary
supplements, homeopathy and naturopathy, meditation, visualization
and making plans for the future. All of which contributed to their
well-being. Recognition of this by the medical profession is lacking.
It has been my experience and that of others that insufficient
attention is given to the patient who is aware of his or her health
and body. When a patient includes alternative therapies in
conjunction with medical resources, frequently physicians ignore
anything other than the medical resources!
Dr.
Jon Kaiser says, "Many physicians have little faith in the
body's ability to heal and that is why they promote reliance on
drugs.”
I
was told the virus would kill me. Repeatedly, this is expressed to
others and me, during discussions with physicians. Patients come out
of doctors' offices and AIDS clinics teary eyed, faced with fear
conveyed by physicians! However, I do not feel this is proper
dialogue. This kind of dialogue does conjure up fear in most
individuals, affecting them psychologically as well as physically.
AIDS patients do not have to be hopeless, helpless and passive in
the face of the illness!
We
need to find better ways for providing health care and improving the
quality of life for people living with serious disease. We can
recognize the influence that our thoughts and emotions have on our
health and the importance of holistic therapies that nourish all
aspects of being. Positive thinking, nutrition, exercise,
supplements and spiritual resources, all contribute to wellness and
a longer life span. All this, we should be able to discuss with
health professionals, allowing for a peace of mind and a quality of
life not given by time allotted diagnosis. I realize the difficulty
in making change. However, I do believe we can all work together in
order to educate, ensuring proper information and awareness. I am
committed to doing everything I can in order to create awareness!
Bradford McIntyre
, HIV+ 20 years
Vancouver
, B.C.
Canada
www.PositivelyPositive.ca
Los
Martes de Enkidu
Febrero 2007
