Guns don't kill people, doctors do.

[BraggSurvivor]

Doctors
(A) The number of physicians in the U.S. is
700,000.
(B) Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year are
120,000.
(C) Accidental deaths per physician is
0.171.

Statistics courtesy of U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Now think about this:
Guns
(A) The number of gun owners in the U.S. is
80,000,000. (Yes, that's 80 million)
(B) The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all age groups, is
1,500.
(C) The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is
.000188.

Statistics courtesy of FBI
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
So, statistically, doctors are approximately
9,000 times more dangerous than gun owners.
.................................................. .................................................. ..*
Remember, 'Guns don't kill people, doctors do.'
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN,
BUT
ALMOST EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Please alert your friends to this alarming threat.
We must ban doctors before this gets completely out of hand!!!!!
.................................................. .................................................. ...
Out of concern for the public at large,
I withheld the statistics on lawyers
for fear the shock would cause
people to panic and seek medical attention!

[RobertRogers]

It is a well known fact that one of the most dangerous things you can do is see a doctor about a condition. The simple fact is, 90% of health problems clear up on their own and the medicine you take may actually be working against you.

The body has a natural ability to cure itself that has been honed through millions of years of evolution.

Of course, cancer, broken bones, and such are a different story. But go to a doctor with most ailments and he will try to find a cure even though

1) there is no need to take medication - the body will do just fine given time and medications can mess with your body and mind in unexpected and even unknown ways.
2) the diagnosis is likely to be incorrect or only partially correct. The treatment can sicken you or even kill you in extreme cases.

We have been brainwashed into thinking outside medical help is necessary for anything from a simple cold or flu to a hangnail.

[tacmedic]

I am curious where this well known fact has been verified through? You say that 90% of health conditions can be cured with time? Last time I checked diabetes and heart disease were the two most common health problems in the united states, which will probably not go away with "just time." Diabetes is the result of your highly evolved pancreas failing to produce insulin. Don't even get me started on the treatment of heart disease. I will concede that many times these conditions are a result of the lifestyle that we lead and are not "natural conditions" that have developed in our bodies. But they still require management by a competent physician.

I do agree that for the common colds and sniffles that, as a society, we have been condition to believe that a pill will cure everything. This has gotten us into a lot of trouble with antibiotic resistant bacteria.

Some more numbers for you- the number of doctor/patient visits per year in the US is approx 964 million. Which is 0.0000124 deaths per doctor visit. Which doesn't include nurse practitioners and PA's. Numbers are also from the US Department of Health and Human Services.

[Dennis K.]

It is a well known fact that one of the most dangerous things you can do is see a doctor about a condition. The simple fact is, 90% of health problems clear up on their own and the medicine you take may actually be working against you.

The body has a natural ability to cure itself that has been honed through millions of years of evolution.

Of course, cancer, broken bones, and such are a different story. But go to a doctor with most ailments and he will try to find a cure even though

1) there is no need to take medication - the body will do just fine given time and medications can mess with your body and mind in unexpected and even unknown ways.
2) the diagnosis is likely to be incorrect or only partially correct. The treatment can sicken you or even kill you in extreme cases.

We have been brainwashed into thinking outside medical help is necessary for anything from a simple cold or flu to a hangnail.

http://www.kxmb.com/getArticle.asp?s...ticleId=259664
496 flu Deaths in ND.

or if you don't like that one, how 'bout here:
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/influenza-epidemic/
50 million deaths - flu epidemic 1918.

Don't want to take meds? fine. your choice. may you never get a kidney stone. may you never need insulin. May you never get a staph infection. But, if you do, I'm sure your body will heal itself.

Actually - in those cases, you just might heal yourself - all while suffering needlessly.
Heck, I don't believe in a pill for every occasion, but your comments seem a bit consiracy-theory-esque.

[Rick]

I believe in preventative maintenance for my cars and my homes. Why wouldn't I do the same for my body? Two of the most important relationships you can establish is with your PCP and your dentist. In both instances the old adage of an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure may very well be understated.

Another fact that is worth considering. The highly evolved body is lasting longer BECAUSE of doctors. 50 percent of children born in 1900 could reasonably hope to reach the age of 50; life expectancy today is approximately 77 years of age.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_expectancy

The implementation of sewers, overall sanitation, improved nutrition, and a reduction in infant mortality are all do to the medical profession and I give credit to everyone from first responders to research scientists and everyone in between.

[trax]

Hey guys, I kinda thing Bragg was kidding with the first post. ((shrug)) but on the other hand, how many more people go to the doctor every year in the US compared to how many go shooting or hunting? That may skew the stats, owning the gun vs. firing the gun....

Personally, I treat my body like a temple. A temple dedicated to decadence and avarice...

[Rick]

Avarice. Wasn't she the goddess of.....oh, never mind. Nell may be logged on.

[Dennis K.]

I just try to stay in shape. Round is a shape.

[RobertRogers]

It is always difficult to come to grip with a concept that is foreign to one's general perceptions that have been formed over time in the culture in which they live.

I personally know of several of people (friends, family) who were killed by doctor misdiagnosis or improper medical procedure. I also know of others who were given drugs that turned out to be doing much harm before discovered. No doubt there are even more people in my circle who are currently being misdiagnosed or taking drugs that are bad for them and nobody even knows.

But,

How many civilians do I personally (friends, family) know who were harmed by guns? Zero.

How many civilians do I personally know who were killed by guns? Zero.

How many households in my area have guns in the home? Probably about 80%.


And consider this, remembering that I live in a relatively rural area (but with access to one of the finest medical facilities in the world at Dartmouth) where guns are a way of life:

How many households in my area handle guns far more often than seeing a doctor? Probably about 80%.

That's reasonable evidence that going to a doctor can be a dangerous thing, possibly more dangerous than guns, something that must be done with all due caution.

Just look at the case against ritalin and a host of other drugs and treatments. American medicine is in the pocket of Big Pharma, of that there is little doubt.

Sure, get a regular physical but you are far better off to eat right, keep in good physical and mental shape, not smoke drink etc as your primary means of prevention.

If you remove childhood disease, problems at birth, and disease due to lack of sanitation, smoking, illegal drugs, etc (all of which most of us have gotten beyond - or should have anyway), you will find that the human body is one tough nut and that the average lifespan for someone who takes care of themselves is something like 90+ years old.

So yes, for the big stuff by all means see a doctor. But I still maintain that much of the things people go to doctors for would clear up anyway given time or by practicing proper hygiene etc. If you go to a doctor for these things he is likely to prescribe something you do not need or even perhaps do unnecessary surgeries, etc.

From my personal experiences, as outlined above, would I say that going to a doctor is more dangerous than guns? I have to say "Yes" simply because I have never experienced a personal loss from guns but have experienced personal loss due to doctors. There is no other conclusion I can draw from this.

[Dennis K.]

RR - some of what you say is perfectly reasonable. I believe in the resilience of the human body. I also believe that some doctors make mistakes. and I am under no illusions that BigPharma is my friend.
BUT...

How many civilians do I personally (friends, family) know who were harmed by guns? Zero.

How many civilians do I personally know who were killed by guns? Zero.

How many households in my area have guns in the home? Probably about 80%.
How many households in my area handle guns far more often than seeing a doctor? Probably about 80%.

This is WAY off track. Much like saying "80% of people wore green. Someone not wearing green was struck by lightning. Therefore, wearing green will keep you from getting struck by lightning."
Your mixing of statistics is not like comparing apples & oranges - it's more like comparing apples to cinder blocks.

I am not advocating a pill for every complaint. The simple fact is that doctors do deal in death. Many people under a doctor's care are near the end of their lives - in which case, the doc is there to ease suffering. Many people can not adequately describe their illness, so the docs must try to rule out as much stuff as possible and deduce the correct course of treatment. Some people lie - docs must wade through that as well. Medicine has never been an exact science.
Given the choice between doc vs. no doc (didn't Rambo stitch himself up?), I'll trust my doc any day.

[nell67]

Know what they call the person who graduated last in medical school?

[Dennis K.]

Know what they call the person who graduated last in medical school?

"Doctor"

[nell67]

"Doctor"

Absolutely!!

Where did your doc graduate in his class??

[Dennis K.]

I never asked, but he's great. Fast, cheap, and shares my disdain for the pharma's & insurance co's.

[Rick]

The point I tried to make in my earlier post is that if you have a relationship with your doctor and practice preventative medicine in partnership with them then big problems are often found when they are still small and never become big problems. I'd much rather learn my PSA is starting to rise, for example, than be told I have Stage III cancer of the prostate. (Insert whatever example you choose. It's still relevant.)

As for graduating last in class. The good news is only one out of the entire class was last. Your chances of being treated by someone higher in class is in your favor.

[trax]

well we had a big lightning storm here the other night, woke me up at about 2 in the morning. I immediately jumped out of bed and put on green jammies and look... i made it through just fine

[Dennis K.]

well we had a big lightning storm here the other night, woke me up at about 2 in the morning. I immediately jumped out of bed and put on green jammies and look... i made it through just fine

You should not have done that!

Most people that are struck by lightning are NOT in bed. Therefore, it is statistically safer for you to stay in bed during a lightning storm.

[trax]

Well you know me, just roll the dice and take the chance, one of life's daredevils. Actually, I left out the part where after donning the green jammies, I hid under the bed with my dog.

[klkak]

I like my doctor. If I'm really sick he gives me what I need to get better. If I'm not really sick he tells me to go find my balls and "Man Up" and "Quit whining".

[crashdive123]

I like my doctor. If I'm really sick he gives me what I need to get better. If I'm not really sick he tells me to go find my balls and "Man Up" and "Quit whining".

Kind of like some of the advice given here that usually gets us in trouble.