Improving the quality of health
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’ 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<
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