It is the result of the application of therapy of no proven benefit but certainly harmful. There is no doubt that in the past few years the public has become more disillusioned with traditional medicine and are turning to alternatives to satisfy their needs. There is no doubt that part of this disillusionment comes from the economic realities following the euphoria of discovery and medical advances of the past few decades. We simply cannot afford to pay for many of the therapies that are now available. A more compelling reason for disillusionment is the fact that more and more demands are being placed on the physician's time such that less time is available to talk to patients.
Time is necessary to unravel the true reason and nature for their visit to their physician's office.
We have been buffeted by many demands that have left little time to practice holistic medicine. However, this story should imbue us with caution. All therapies should undergo rigorous evaluation before being accepted as safe and standard for our patients. Many of the treatments are benign and are neither good nor bad. That few of these treatments are harmful should be of grave concern to us all.