Is the profit in drugs concealing the simple and easy treatments to disease ?

Question

There is a simple alternative philosophy concerning disease and its treatment.

Most of us, don't realize that there are 'friendly bacteria" (not all bacteria is bad) the same kind found in yogurt and cheeses that help the body digest food.

An imbalance or contamination of this intestinal flora may cause IBS, Crohns, MS, Depression, Schizophrenia and even Cancer.

Problem is that when you are given too much anti-biotics, some of the friendly bacteria is killed making people anemic and sick due to a lack of proper chemcials.

Where you awaer of what are called probiotics, or friendly bacteria and do you think that enough is being done to address this positive side to bacteria ?

Answer 1

I am not aware if an imbalance of the intestinal flora can cause schizofrenia, as you mention, but as a pharmacist I can tell you from my experience, that younger people are more sensible and better informed on the issues of alternative treatments or about more "simple" treatments.
From Mayo clinic, they have been defined as a tool for a healthier life.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/probiotics/AN00389
I share with the previous answerer his views about what is ethical or not.
The science of pharmacoeconomy that should have an answer to this question, has not been proved efficient. There are a lot of factors interfering with drugs prescriptions habbits like the mentality of the doctor, the laws and ethics governing a country and of course, the resistance of this doctor to the profit.

katerina

Answer 2

This is a great question, although I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. You are asking a question of ethics, more than science, and you will likely receive conflicting answers.

I was indeed aware of probiotics and "friendly" bacteria, btw. When you get into a question of whether it's ok to kill off bad bacteria at the expense of good bacteria, it's really going to depend on the individual situation. Certainly, I'd gladly sacrifice normal flora if I could stop an infection in my body somewhere.

IF you question is 'are drug co.'s purposely sacrificing the good bacteria in the body to come up with some drug that kills undesirable stuff, I'd say 'no', but I do believe they know exactly what's happening, and don't really care as long as they are making money. Is this ethical? probably not. Is it life-saving? probably.