A Controversial Illness?
I ran across this article recently - Critical Review of ABC Nightline’s De Facto Presentation on Dr. William Rea and Chemical Sensitivity - and I’ve done a slow burn ever since. The article is a review of a Nightline piece about The Environmental Health Center in Dallas, Texas.
It seems from the very first, the Nightline piece had no intention of being objective journalism:
Nightline began the episode with “What if you “thought” that the world around you was making you sick? If you “feared” that the house you live in, the car that you drive and everyday activities such as watching television and talking on a cell phone were making you ill? Dr. William Rea “says” he has treated more than 30,000 people, from all over the world, who “believe” the world around them has made them sick. Very sick.”
There, there, dear. It’s all in your head. If you just thought differently, then you wouldn’t feel so bad. Puh-lease! Why in the world would I want to feel this way if there were a choice? Why would I choose to be a recluse. It’s not really who I am. It’s just what I have to do.
The article, by Lourdes Salvador, makes some very good points by applying critical thinking to the Nightline piece. I encourage you to read it all.
Ah, if we read on, we get a glimpse of what is really going on. Dr. William Rea, the founder of the Environmental Health Center, hasn’t been published in the journals published by the drug pushers - er - companies. You see, MCS isn’t generally treated with drugs.
And, after all, isn’t it the American way that every health issue can, and should, be resolved by drugs? How often do you got to the doctor expecting to leave with a prescription. It was so in-grained in my father that he would plan it. “I have a doctor appt. at 11:00 am. From there we can drop the prescription at the pharmacy, go to lunch, and then pick up the prescription.” No matter what he went in for. It’s even impacted how doctors treat patients. Doctors are part of the problem with antibiotic sensitive bacteria. It’s much easier to prescribe an unneeded antibiotic for a viral infection than to try to educate the masses.
It’s almost un-American to have an illness and not treat it with a drug. And that is courtesy of our local drug pushers - er - companies.
But, really, should an illness be treated differently just because drugs aren’t the solution? I think not. What are your thoughts?
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