The Business of Selling Sickness, by Dr. Ogi Ressel

Friday, February 13th 2009

Warm hellos to everyone of you,

I am certain that all of you as chiropractors, are aware that we are all
in a war - make no mistake about it.

This war is different, however, than others fought in the past. There are
no wounded and bleeding prisoners, no POW camps, no food stamps,
no aircraft bombing raids, and no actual blood is shed. This war is fought
on the plains of marketing, credibility, public awareness, and money.
The weapons used are devastating - the media, political lynch-mobs,
Regulatory Board witch-hunts, blitzkriegs, drug campaigns, immunization
fear campaigns, and a host of others.

Although no actual blood is shed, there are plenty of victims. You see
them everyday in your offices - people who have been taught to believe
that Health is an outside-in process.
That drugs will do the work that the body is somehow incapable of doing -
an no one ever questions why? And they willingly subject their children to
medical rituals most of which have not been adequately tested but
nevertheless passed by the FDA, etc.

Ray Moynihan and Alan Cassels, in their new book entitled, "Selling Sickness,"
took a bold step in disclosing the Big Pharma Plan - World drug domination.

Thirty years ago, Henry Gadsden, the head of Merck, one of the world's largest
drug companies, told Fortune magazine that he wanted Merck to be more
like chewing gum maker Wrigley's. It had long been his dream, he said,
to make drugs for healthy people so that Merck could "sell to everyone."
Gadsden's dream now drives the marketing machinery of the most profitable
industry on Earth.

We know that using their dominating influence in the world of science and politics, 
drug companies are systematically working to widen the very boundaries that
define illness. Old conditions are expanded, new ones are created, and the markets
for medication grow ever larger.

Mild problems are redefined as serious illness, and common run-of-the-mill
complaints are labelled as medical conditions requiring drug treatments.
Runny noses are now allergic rhinitis, Measles is now a serious disease, PMT has
become a psychiatric disorder - as has hyperactivity, and even shyness - the
latter now requiring Zoloft which is conveniently available to cast off the demons
of being shy. Incontinence has been elevated to the status of "Overactive Bladder Disease"
and all men over 40 are "urged" to have a prostate test in case that cancer is
detected early - so that treatment can begin right away. Being "at-risk" for a condition
such as high cholesterol or low bone density is sold as a disease in its own right.

Widening the boundaries of illness and lowering the threshold for what is medically
considered "normal" so that treatment can be initiated immediately, is creating
millions of new patients - and billions of dollars in new profits - and is threatening
to bankrupt health care systems all over the world. We are sliding ever so quickly
towards Gadsdens' dream of "selling to everyone."

I don't think I am saying anything that you have not been aware of...
But...I'd like you to understand that as a profession, we are the only ones who
stand in the way of this gargantuan medical-pharmaceutical steam roller..

What I'd like you to realize is that this war also has plenty of prisoners. Yes. Prisoners.
Guess who they are?
If you pointed at yourself, I congratulate you on your insight!

Because of the Wilks case victory a number of years ago, Organized Medicine
cannot openly oppose the Chiropractic profession - that is being done very covertly.
How you ask?
It is done by ever-tightening Regulatory Board regulations and "Standards of Practice."

These boards are responsible to the Health Dept, or other such body 
that supports the medical health care approach, and only tolerates our presence.  
The higher orders are quite blatant: contain the chiropractic threat. Make these
chiropractors masters of back pain only.
The public is not allowed to hear the Wellness message for fear that it may detract
from Gadsden's dream. Why, you ask?
Simple.
Money.

There is no source of revenue for the goverment from people seeing a chiropractor.
"Heaven forbid, we cannot allow a population to be healthy. What would we do
with a whole population of medics whose patients are turning to Chiropractic
for health care. Unthinkable!

What is to be done with the whole army of cancer researchers and support staff.
The economy of the country is at stake."

So ....what is the best way of fighting this war?
I suggest that we stop fighting each other, for one. When attacked, we
tend to circle the wagons and shoot inside! That needs to stop.
I also suggest that we involve our patients in this war - this war can
be won only with the support of your publics! Make your patients realize
what you do and what this is really about. It is about their rights and
liberties and freedoms. Have your patients speak out to their politicians.
Have them make waves.
Rattle and rock the boat!  Make your patients question, write to, and justify
the decisions of your Boards.
Get the media involved. Public pressure - the most powerful weapon there is!
Fire those chiropractors who sit on these Boards - and if they cannot be fired,
then use their same tactics against them - be vigilant about what they do and
lodge a formal complaint to their Board if you notice anything amiss. They will
be forced to step down. This needs to be campaign.
Become powerful. Make certain that everything you do in your office is absolutely
squeaky clean - leave no room for any Regulatory Board to have a go at you
for anything.

Have all paperwork and research to back up what you do and why.
Stop being a victim and a prisoner.
....and don't forget your purpose and mission!

Oh....one last thing.....Have fun! Enjoy the process!

Warmest wishes,
Dr. Ogi Ressel