HOW
TO IMPROVE HEALTH CARE IN THE USA USING BUDDHIST PRINCIPLES. A NOTE TO THE DOCTORS
The
Four Noble Truths
Buddha
was preaching to the Monks
The
contemplation of Mental Objects
Sathipathana
Sutra
The
Foundation of Mindfulness
The
original in Pali, the sacred language
Buddha
said
A
monk knows
This
is suffering, according to reality
He
knows. This is the origin of suffering according to reality
He
knows
This
is the cessation of suffering, according to reality, he knows
This
is the road leading to the cessation of suffering, according to reality
In
the modern medical care, exemplified by the piecemeal, body as a machine model
of USA, now exported widely to the rest of the world, SYMPTOMS feature predominantly
in the ILLNESS the patient feels, that is translated by the doctor according to
his intelligence and knowledge into a DISEASE
Illness
is what the patient feels, Illness is not a physiological explanation
But
Disease is objectification, bringing what is in the mind and the emotions of
the patient into the body of the patient.
Thus,
symptoms are treated and the reality is forgotten for a moment. Once the
treatment is administered, very seldom do the doctor or even the patient enquire
about what caused the symptoms.
To
cease suffering, one has to know the origins of suffering and the path to the
suffering. (the emotional and social aspects of ILLNESS) and then know the road
to the cessation of that suffering (which is omitted in western medicine, but
includes emotional and spiritual counselling)
In
Lakota Language, the world for HEALING is wa pi yah , meaning bring together
(much like the meaning of YOGA), to heal the patient, bring him back to the
reality of his emotional and social world, most importantly to re integrate him
or her into that reality.
A
case to explain
A
29-year-old woman has pain in the right side of her “stomach” (My good friend
and teacher Dr Cecil Helman had published an article about how ignorant the
patients in his Family Practice were about the location of organs). The pain
increased day by day, she travelled from the eastern part of the country to the
capital. She was seen by a General Practitioner who said, you have gastritis
and let us do an ultrasound, which was done. The patient left with no
diagnosis, no treatment and no follow up.
The
pain continued, she could hardly breathe, difficult to walk and she ended up in
the emergency room of a teaching hospital, seen by a resident in Internal
Medicine. He also suspected gastritis and did not alleviate her concern because
she was feeling referred pain on her right shoulder. The area of pain was
mostly over the gallbladder. The doctor did some blood tests, mainly to make
sure that she did not have pancreatitis. She left still with no diagnosis and
no treatment, with a note to call to make a follow up appointment.
Needless
to say, no one had asked her about emotional and social and work situation.
She
came to my house, limping and with a stomach very tender to touch.
I
was with my sister who talked to her extensively, and found out the origin of
her symptoms. I felt that she probably had a small ulcer or severe gastritis
due to the reasons my sister had delineated.
So,
we did the Cuban approach to Primary Care
Physical. Diagnosis Severe Gastritis. Symptomatic
treatment. Proton Pump Inhibitors such as Omeprazole or Pantoprazole (I had a
bunch of them in my bag bought in India, the best source for reliable and cheap
medications)
In
the meantime, my sister had counselled her about the path to her suffering and
was able to offer some good advice.
What
was left for us to do was the spiritual aspect of healing or bringing her back
to her reality: her work, her social relations, her love for her country.
A
little cleansing ceremony was held in my house. She felt very good.
Day
by day she called to report that her symptoms were being alleviated, we advised
her on what to eat and what to avoid. She was emotionally feeling better having
a taken a decision based on the path to her suffering and the spiritual
cleansing had given her a sense of wellness and confidence.
All is well.
