Pharmakeia and Sorcery -
We have all seen those commercials on the t.v. for the latest 'prescription drug' benefits.
Then, in smaller print, or softer voice-over, we also are told about the possible side-effects.
As you listen to these 'side-effects', you realize that most of them are much worse than the ailment that the drug is said to help.
It made me think of the passage in Luke 11 where it speaks of a man who has been cleansed of an 'unclean spirit', but in doing so is then revisited by seven more spirits worse than the first.
This is exactly what happens with most of the prescription drugs now being given to people. While some medications can be necessary for an acute illness, the majority cause far more harm than good.
First do no harm
The Hippocratic Oath includes the promise "to abstain from doing harm". Non-maleficence is one of the principal precepts of bioethics throughout the world.
Another way to state it is that, "given an existing problem, it may be better not to do something, or even to do nothing, than to risk causing more harm than good."
It reminds the health care provider that they must consider the possible harm that any intervention might do. Sadly, modern medicine has turned the Hippocratic Oath into the 'Hypocritical Oath'.
It is to be considered when debating the use of an intervention that carries an obvious risk of harm but a less certain chance of benefit.
Sadly, this consideration is often overlooked. The harmful (side) effects caused by many prescription drugs can be long-lasting, if not permanent.
These side-effects are also very often as bad, or even much worse, than the condition being treated by the supposed medication.
In the attempt to rid the patient of one problem, many times he may develop several other health complaints far more 'wicked' than the first.
Luke 11:21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
Matthew 12
43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called.
Colossians 2:8 "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."
(NEXT PAGE - Bible Overview)
We have all seen those commercials on the t.v. for the latest 'prescription drug' benefits.
Then, in smaller print, or softer voice-over, we also are told about the possible side-effects.
As you listen to these 'side-effects', you realize that most of them are much worse than the ailment that the drug is said to help.
It made me think of the passage in Luke 11 where it speaks of a man who has been cleansed of an 'unclean spirit', but in doing so is then revisited by seven more spirits worse than the first.
This is exactly what happens with most of the prescription drugs now being given to people. While some medications can be necessary for an acute illness, the majority cause far more harm than good.
First do no harm
The Hippocratic Oath includes the promise "to abstain from doing harm". Non-maleficence is one of the principal precepts of bioethics throughout the world.
Another way to state it is that, "given an existing problem, it may be better not to do something, or even to do nothing, than to risk causing more harm than good."
It reminds the health care provider that they must consider the possible harm that any intervention might do. Sadly, modern medicine has turned the Hippocratic Oath into the 'Hypocritical Oath'.
It is to be considered when debating the use of an intervention that carries an obvious risk of harm but a less certain chance of benefit.
Sadly, this consideration is often overlooked. The harmful (side) effects caused by many prescription drugs can be long-lasting, if not permanent.
These side-effects are also very often as bad, or even much worse, than the condition being treated by the supposed medication.
In the attempt to rid the patient of one problem, many times he may develop several other health complaints far more 'wicked' than the first.
Luke 11:21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace:
22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils.
23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
24 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
25 And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
26 Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
Matthew 12
43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called.
Colossians 2:8 "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."
(NEXT PAGE - Bible Overview)