The medical profession has always jealously guarded itself against the intrusion of maverick scientists and doctors. Because of the layers of protection the medical profession has instituted, medical research, particularly in the United States, is slow.
Major breakthroughs are slow to be recognized and are often ostracized.
From the French abortion pill to AIDS research, this country lags many years behind in implementing or even testing new discoveries. Microbiologist Gaston Naessens is a perfect example of the Neanderthal process of professional medicine today. His discovery, hailed by many physicians throughout the world, has been criticized, not for what it is, but because he does not have the credentials or membership in the right medical societies. Naessens moved to Canada with the help of the prestigious MacDonald Foundation and set up a small laboratory outside Montreal. After years of research, Naessens was brought to trial by the Canadian medical authorities, accused of contributing to the death of a woman who did not recover after using his treatment.