Critical Response #2 9/12/07

I decided to write my second critical response on chapter six in Neil Postman's "Technopoly" which dealt with technology and its relationship with the field of medicine. I thought that Postman made some valid points in this chapter, but there were also points that I disagreed with.
The second paragraph on page 103 discusses some of the positive advances that have happened in the field of medicine. For example, he talks about doctors now being able to remove cataracts with lasers and using laparscopes to guide a surgeon's instrument through a tiny little hole in order to remove a person's gallbladder without having to cut their abdomen wide open. These are all wonderful advancements that allow doctors to make life better for their patients. And while these are all great and wonderful technological advances, Postman makes a very valid statment following these examples. He says, "..will ask how many laparoscopic cholecytectomies are performed because of the exsistence of the technology" (103). I believe that for as many people who actually need to have a surgery, there are just as many people who don't it, but have it done simply because the technology and means are available to have it done. Some people are just overly cautious and need to make sure that nothing is wrong with them for their own sanity; others are just hypochondriacs who run to the hospital and demand tests or treatments for every cough, sneeze, ache, or pain. I believe that this contributes to the statistic that Postman used earlier in the chapter about America having more surgeries than England.
On that same note, I don't believe that advances in medical technology are alone to blame for America's outragous statistics in the number of surgeries performed, prescriptions given, and x-ray use etc. Postman says that because the physicians have these technologies they are using them on everyone whether they are needed or not. I disagree with that statement because I think it has more to do with patients demanding that they have these tests run on them. If the doctor refuses, they run the risk of being sued by the patient. It is just the type of society that we live in, it's one where we constantly blame other people and except things in return for their "mistakes". I think it was a hasty assumption on Postman's part to say that we abuse our technology and rely on it to do everything for us just because the statistics say so.
The biggest thing that I disagreed with Postman on was his view on the relationship between a physician and his patient. Postman basically says that the relationship has been destroyed because of all the technology now in use. I believe that the relationship still exists. There are many people who have a close friendly relationship with their family physician and pregnant women certainly develop a relationship with their OB/GYN during their pregnancy. Just because the technology has advanced doesn't mean that relationship ceases to exist. I also think that people are healthier now a days, so they don't need to go the doctor as often which could cause the relationship between doctor and patient to not be so apparent to everyone else. Outside of the hospital setting, you could look at place like a rehabilitation clinic. I plan on majoring in physical therapy and in that field of work, a definant relationship exists with the patient even though machines have been created to assist the patient with their rehabilitation. The patient still needs the physical therapist there for guidance, instruction, and support and that need establishes and promotes the relationship.