I have a real dilemma before me. Would you please advise me?
I am sick, in need of help and I have sitting on my dining room table two prescription medicines that promise to make me better. Now, honestly I am not looking for a quick placebo or some kind of a band aid to fool me into thinking I’m getting better, because I know that my problems are much deeper than surface issues. I know that the medial ethic of “our goal is to make you feel better” can be satisfied, but I don’t just want to feel better, I want to be better. So, I have a choice before me.
Prescription #1
The first prescription is tried and proven; having been FDA approved for over 10 years. It has a long record of doing what it claims to do – getting to the core of the problem, fighting where the infection is greatest and boosting the patients energy. Its success is well documented and available for all to study. 
It has, however, been available for a long time and may be less effective in advertising, but there is no question as to its effectiveness. This particular bottle, although still good, has an expiration date of 2012.
Prescription #2
The other prescription is a completely different story as it is brand spanking new. It has not been approved by the FDA but, like many up and coming drugs its wonders can be heard on Saturday Public Radio shows where Dr. Soandso assures us of its uniqueness and effectiveness as well as the late night infomercials that rave about its accomplishments, even showing testimonies of people who have taken the miracle medicine and experienced radical healing. It seems to be the popular choice for those of us who are sick, but there really isn’t any documentation to back up the claims, at least not where you would expect to find it. In fact, when the opportunity for documentation has been made available, the makers of the drug have chosen not to participate. That deliberate silence concerns me.
So, which medicine should I take? Should I trust “Old Faithful” or should I get risky and hope that taking the non FDA approved medicine will somehow be the answer I’ve been looking for. So much in me says to take the risk as so many others in my situation are willing to do it. I don’t want to be left behind, but how can I be sure if there isn’t a proven record?
Wisdom, in my mind, would say, “I’m going to go with ‘Old Faithful’ as I know what I’m going to get” as well as “hey newbie, why don’t you prove yourself to me before you make up so many promises?”
Those are my thoughts…what would you do? I know that my life and health will depend on it…and I want to be thinking about how my choice will affect my family and friends, even my church.
Filed under: Odd's & End's | Tagged: Medicine, Perscriptions, Politics
…is this a trick question? Feels like it sometimes, huh? Having worked in the biotech industry (both medical device and pharmaceutical research) and having parents & a husband who work in biotech I would have to say that I would stick with “old faithful” unless I could talk to someone who actually worked on that drug (not so unheard of here in Biotech Bay). In my experience I have found that even though the people discovering, manufacturing, packaging and marketing are well-intentioned, sometimes there might be just the teensiest “push” from corporate to release a drug before every avenue has been explored. That’s how they find people to participate in certain clinical trials to prove the efficacy of their product. I might be old-fashioned, but I would rather go with the “known evil” than the unknown in medical circumstances…My gut tells me that they don’t have enough data to know what will happen 10, 15, 20 years down the road and if the ‘list of possible side effects’ is anything to go by things might be rough
On the flip side of that I have been subject to FDA inspections and it ain’t pretty…they are seemingly very careful before releasing anything for public consumption/relief.
Helpful?
Sara…Thanks for the feedback…I guess I was too subtle about the allegory…look at the Title once again and then the tags at the bottom…especially the third one…
:0)
Ooooooohhhhh, yeah…that makes sense too and yet I’m not so sure I don’t stand by my initial response (see, I can be subtle too)…
Ahhh. You see, I know that you know that I am a suspicious person, so I clearly won’t pick #2. Yet, you know that I think I need more faith in my life, so you also know that I might pick #2. Yet, you of course would know that I am a person of tradition, so I clearly might pick #1 . Yet, since I am a suspicious person, you also know I might not pick #1 or #2. Wait….what’s that behind you? Go ahead, look. Thanks. All I’ll tell you know is that I’ve switched the labels while you weren’t looking. Now it’s really just a question of faith now isn’t it. Pick either bottle it really doesn’t matter.