For this week the lesson is regarding medicine.
As someone who was debating between a Masters in Medical Anthropology and Public Health, the issue between conventional and traditional medicine is a big deal to me.
One particular issue which has been completely institutionalized by medicine is the birthing process.
In the United States, Cesarean sections (C-sections) are performed nearly 1 in 3 births (CDC, 2013). This is particularly disturbing to me as the process of birthing is becoming less and less natural.
For example, it is not beneficial for hospitals to have someone in labor for an extended period of time, therefore medication is given to induce labor (pitocin). One of the side effects, is that the contractions become very painful, then they have to give you another drug to take away the pain - causing numbness and doesn't give the woman the energy to push.
Needless to say, C-section has become big business in the United States - more money for hospitals, more money for the insurance company [medication, procedure, anesthesiologist]. No where else in the world (including developed countries) has 1/5 of the rate of C-sections that are performed in the United States.
Sad thing is the United States has a very high IMR (infant mortality rate) in relation to other developed countries. 50 countries rank in front of the United States in regards to IMR - CLICK HERE.
This is just 1 issue that I have with the conventional medicine.
CLICK HERE for this week's lesson
Mahalo for reading.
Until next time.
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