The following excerpts are taken from an essay written by Dr. Robert E. Willner, who has practiced medicine for 40 years and refers to himself as an insider of traditional medicine.

The foundation of the medical profession lies in the hands of the pharmaceutical industry and remains a profession riddled with conflicts of interest. Too often, true disease prevention is referred to as too time consuming or as a barrier to economic profits. Traditional doctors engage in a simple and profitable practice. They first spend a limited amount of time with their patients, charge them an exorbitant fee, then fill out a script for a prescription without looking into the possible side effects of the medication.

Don't Hesitate to Question Your Doctor

Rather than simply accepting your doctor's opinion regarding a treatment or diagnosis, ask him or her the source of information they are basing their opinions on.

Inquire about natural and alternative therapies. Most doctors are open to new ideas, however are oblivious to the fact that a barrier has been put up around them based on what they've been exposed to for years in the traditional medical industry.

The power of the AMA has clearly left an impression upon the practice of modern medicine today. Not only has it stifled the doors to creativity but has also created a conformist way of thinking among doctors.

A huge force behind the narrow-minded thinking of doctors has been the pharmaceutical industry, which has brought success to doctors a miniscule less than 10 percent of the diseases they attempt to treat. Pharmaceutical industries have their hands in many influential areas such as research grants, contracts and advertising support for thousands of published medical journals, which are used as reference guides.

As long as the medical industry remains under the grip of the pharmaceutical industry, the public will continue to be denied other treatment options for their health care and disease treatment.

Positive Strides in the Medical Industry

One area that modern medicine has shown signs of progress in is the diagnosis and treatment of individuals needing crisis care. Advancements in surgical procedures have not only saved many lives but also have brought back a decent quality of life to millions. Unfortunately, these great technological advancements in many cases have been abused due to greed and profit.

While traditional doctors have made some great achievements in the area of crisis care, it is important to keep in mind that this type of care represents an extremely small area in comparison to all of the other health issues and diseases it has to face.

Molocure July 2004

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

One of the important points to remember here is that you can play a vital role in making your health care safe and not fall victim to the greedy pharmaceutical industries by becoming: Active Involved Informed You need to see yourself as the center of the health care team. You need to ask questions, and if you can't then you need to have loved ones or other advocates speak on your behalf. Keeping up to date on the latest manipulations of the drug industry is key to taking control of your health. It is my vision through Mercola.com to expose the existing medical paradigm's techniques, habits, and messages that have put, and increasingly are putting, your health and the health of the American public in grave danger. I invite you to delve into the site for all its useful information, sign up for my twice-weekly newsletter, and, most of all, join me in this quest to transform the medical paradigm to one where all medical professionals are truly committed to their patients' health and well-being at the deepest levels Much of the problem would be avoided if you find a physician who uses drugs only as a last resort and who has a firm understanding of the natural medical principles advocated on this site. As far as professional groups go, chiropractors and naturopaths are the two groups that are generally light years ahead of the traditional medical profession. However, you need to be very careful in selecting any health care provider as ultimately they are individuals and may not be able to provide the top-quality care you require. A helpful strategy is to ask people in several good health food stores who they would recommend. Normally, health food stores are networked in with the top local health care providers. Be careful to ask a number of different individuals though, as you are seeking a consensus here. Related Articles: Conventional Medicine Contributes to Soaring Personal Debt, Bankruptcies Even Doctors Have No Faith in Conventional Medicine Alternative Vs. Conventional: Why Don't Doctors Get It More Than One-Third of U.S. Uses Natural Medicine Death by Medicine Drug Firms Still Lavish Pricey Gifts on Doctors