OPINION.- The Resident, is a Netflix medical series that uncovers medical corruption in the United States. It emerges in January 2018 and its 107 chapters end in 2023. In 6 seasons they build a solid argument from fiction about the poor health ethics of large medical corporations, pharmaceuticals, hospital centers and groups of doctors who only think about billing to make profits.

The interesting thing about the narrative, created by Amy Holden Jones, Haley Schore, and Roshan Sethi, among others, is that it can denounce issues that by passing “only” in the dystopia of the fictional narrative have little chance of being actionable: any resemblance to reality is pure coincidence. However, among its more than 100 chapters are enclosed not inconsiderable approaches to the darkest and most sinister reality of medicine and its business, collected by the screenwriters through conversations held with honest doctors and nurses.

A professor at a university in Oregon recently told me that a student of his had to go to a doctor’s office to get a splinter removed because his “bullshit” insurance did not cover it. In another office they gave him, as if it were a gift, some absorbent cotton and some alcohol so that he could do it himself, something that in the end he had to do without any medical control or the required asepsis. This drama affects millions of students who are dramatically excluded from the healthcare system. Perhaps the Democrats and Republicans should iron out their differences on this issue by sitting down and talking about it.

The Resident, was cancelled in January 2023 with a stable and loyal audience. The producers are clear that such cancellation could have to do with pressure from media groups linked to the most important medical clans of the moment.

One of the most outstanding themes of the first two seasons has to do with cancer and the business behind the supposed remission therapies, one of the doctors at Chastain Park Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, the fictitiously named hospital where the various plots take place, owns a series of centers related to the care of terminally ill cancer patients where chemotherapy is administered. In connection with this issue, in real life, Professor of medicine and drug analysis Peter C. Gotzsche, author of, among other books, How to Survive in an Overmedicated World, tells the story of a 64-year-old relative of his with metastatic pancreatic cancer, diagnosed as incurable, who was willing, like so many other patients when informed of their condition, to do everything possible to try to live a little longer, …he underwent twenty-seven radiation treatments in Denmark, after consulting a different doctor each time. He then underwent surgery in Germany, thanks to an agreement between two hospitals, one Danish and one German, where an experimental treatment was used on him where the doctor who treated him …experimented by mixing white blood cells with the cancer cells and reintroducing them into the patient by monthly injections to strengthen his immune system. This last treatment, which was implemented after the intervention in Germany was not free and each injection cost a bundle. A year and a half after starting this journey, Peter’s relative passed away. Doctors have always affirmed with him and other patients that every chemo treatment prolongs life (1).

In different parts of the world, not only in the USA, health authorities approve cancer drugs without knowing exactly what the results of their application will be. All this causes a great deal of expense to the health system and to the patients and families themselves, often leaving them with substantial debts. Who wins? The pharmaceutical companies that make these compounds and a series of medical commission agents and hospitals that, by applying them indiscriminately to extend the patient’s life for a few months, receive large incomes or huge profits. The Resident, in a masterful way, shows us the corruption we are describing in a surprising visual form.

Dr. Andrew Wakefield published in the 2010s a rigorous study, where apparently the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) in the United States, would have decided to hide – with the help of corrupt scientists and medical associations, laboratories and media linked to power – the relationship between mercury in vaccines and various neural pathologies – especially in children. He was professionally prosecuted for carrying out this study. Some time later, Dr. William W. Thomson, CDC epidemiologist, who participated in the concealment, admitted that it had been real (2).

Throughout the planet, studies on the dangerousness of the drugs we take, even if they are usually taken without a prescription and without consulting our pharmacists, are constantly being disseminated . Let us not forget that pharmacies are stores that sell products and that with each pill they give us, they make money. In my case, I am hypertensive and when we managed to find the little pill that could help me lower my blood pressure, after three attempts, the first thing my family doctor advised me was not to read the indications of the side effects it could produce. However, to give us an idea, without going into the subject, which I will develop further, Joan Ramón-Laporte, Professor of Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), commented in his book Chronicle of an intoxicated society …How do adverse effects manifest themselves? What are the diseases caused by drugs? And behind these two simple questions he began to make an extensive list of which I will only mention a few lines: …hives, stomach pain, diarrhea, dizziness, loss of balance, amnesia, tachycardia, sweating, choking sensation, infection, heart attack, stroke, depression, falls, fractures, cancer… Practically all pathologies can be caused by drugs ( 3).

We may not be aware of where what we read leads us, but if we are diagnosed with a condition, whatever it may be, and we are medicated more, we are entering a wheel where our system deteriorates and becomes weaker and weaker. Falling, then, into the wheel of overmedication is easy and it could end our own lives.

The Resident, the series we are talking about, emphasizes, as did the mythical series House, on diagnosis. Are we well diagnosed with what we have? Taxatively no. Returning to Peter C. Gotzsche’s book How to Survive in an Overmedicated World, in its introduction he leaves us the following paragraph that should be engraved in the hearts of patients who regularly visit their doctors: I wish patients who leave all decisions in the hands of their doctors the best of luck, because they will need it. Doctors make numerous errors of judgment, often because they are ignorant and use too many medications. We live in a world so over-diagnosed and over-treated that, in the richest countries, they are the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer. Peter also comments that it has been found that medical errors, such as those due to medication and other reasons, are the third leading cause of death in the world even if we count only hospital deaths, most of which are preventable.

In short, the series The Resident, from the Netflix platform, narrates somber aspects about the world of medicine, of course without overloading to the extreme the denunciation, impossible in a society where the control of large corporations through their lobbies is part of the entertainment industry and the media, thus controlling part of what is said, how it is said and when it is said. Although the latter is not only the case in the United States.

(1 and 3) Como sobrevivir a un mundo sobremedicado, by Peter C. Gotzsche, Roca Editorial de Libros, S.L. ISBN: 9788417541552
(2) Discovery DSALUD, nº 177 – December 2014

Dushanbe, Tajikistan – 3 October 2024 – In an urgent response to the escalating drug crisis impacting youth across Central Asia, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) convened a regional workshop focusing on the prevention of drug use and the supply of new psychoactive substances (NPS). The two-day event, held on 2 and 3 October, brought together over 40 experts, policymakers, and law enforcement professionals from various Central Asian nations, alongside representatives from several international organizations, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union.

During the workshop’s opening session, Maksudjon Duliyev, the head of the UNODC office in Tajikistan, expressed grave concerns regarding the global drug crisis, citing the latest World Drug Report, which revealed that 292 million people worldwide engage in drug use, yet only one in eleven individuals with drug use disorders receives adequate treatment. “Behind these numbers are real lives—families forever changed by this crisis,” Duliyev stated, underscoring the human toll of the epidemic.

Duliyev further highlighted the rising threat from NPS, reporting that 566 new substances were identified globally in 2022, with 44 classified as new, underscoring the urgent need for effective prevention strategies targeting vulnerable youth populations.

Ambassador Willy Kempel, head of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, reiterated the gravity of the situation, linking it to established drug production and smuggling routes originating from neighboring Afghanistan. “The critical need for regional collaboration cannot be overstated,” Kempel remarked, emphasizing the necessity of cultivating ongoing cooperation efforts to combat the drug crisis effectively.

Addressing the same issues, Miguel de Domingo, Head of Unit for Security, Peace, and Development at the Fundación Internacional y para Iberoamérica de Administración y Políticas Públicas (FIIAPP), pointed to the rapid proliferation of NPS as a new challenge for public health. “The role of digital platforms in the distribution of NPS is particularly concerning,” de Domingo noted, calling for increased monitoring and regulation to curb the growing influence of these substances among young people.

Throughout the workshop, participants engaged in discussions surrounding various pertinent topics, including emerging trends in drug trafficking, risk and protective factors influencing NPS use, and the critical role of international cooperation in establishing early warning systems and rapid response strategies. The emphasis on evidence-based prevention programs tailored specifically for young people was a focal point of many discussions, illustrating a commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by this demographic.

The event concluded with a call for joint efforts and sustained cooperation across countries to effectively mitigate the threats posed by NPS and other illicit drugs. As Central Asia grapples with this pressing issue, the urgency for collaborative action and innovative prevention strategies has never been clearer, promising a more cautious future for the region’s youth.

The European Commission is getting ready to review citizens’ proposals and one controversial idea on the table is the ‘PsychedeliCare’ initiative that supports the exploration and implementation of psychedelic treatments for mental wellbeing issues. Advocates of this initiative highlight the advantages of using psychedelics in addressing mental health concerns; however it’s crucial to carefully assess the consequences of making these substances mainstream for therapeutic use, it already happened with way too many “pharma products” and end up being dangerous street drugs, as this is what they actually were from the beginning.

The Illusory Promise of Psychedelics

Supporters of this “therapies” frequently promote these substances as amazing remedies for profound mental health challenges like depression and anxiety disorders such as PTSD are regularly highlighted by them in support of their claims. However, these early research findings are willfully misinterpreted and exaggerated. The “positive outcomes” observed in limited research studies do not automatically translate to safety and effectiveness across wider and more varied demographic groups, often the contrary. Throughout history the fascination with a quick fix for mental health issues has often resulted in disappointment and harm, if not death.

A Lack of Comprehensive Understanding

The insufficient scientific knowledge about psychedelics raises concerns within the community as the intricate workings of the human brain remain a mystery when influenced by these substances. There are risks such as psychological distress and worsening of preexisting mental health conditions that make it unthinkable to integrate psychedelics into mainstream therapy practices at all. It is crucial to acknowledge the variations in individual experiences and biological compositions to prevent unintended harm rather than aiding in treatment efforts.

Regulatory and Ethical Concerns

The push for government endorsement of psychedelic therapies raises numerous ethical questions. Should substances with known psychoactive properties be part of mainstream health care? The regulatory environment surrounding these compounds is fraught with challenges, including ensuring quality control, standardizing dosages, and preventing misuse. With the legalization movements in various regions, the potential for recreational abuse expands, risking public health and safety.

Historical Context and Social Implications

Looking back, the late 1960s and early 1970s were marked by a psychedelic counterculture that resulted in societal turmoil and increased drug abuse. The legacy of this era still looms large; many young individuals romanticize psychedelic use without regarding the severe consequences that accompanied its earlier popularity, including addiction, mental health crises, and a societal disregard for safety protocols.

A Dangerous Precedent

By calling for a more prominent role for psychedelics in treatment protocols, the advocates of the ‘PsychedeliCare’ initiative may unintentionally set a dangerous precedent. Replacing established, evidence-based treatments with unproven psychedelic therapies could detract from the very real progress made in mental health care. It could shift focus away from holistic approaches that consider lifestyle, therapeutic counseling, and medication tailored to individual needs.

Conclusion

The debate surrounding the ‘PsychedeliCare’ initiative should prompt a vigilant and cautious examination of the implications of endorsing psychedelics as treatment options. While there is a critical need for innovative approaches in mental health care, rushing to embrace unproven therapies poses significant risks. It is paramount that we prioritize rigorous scientific scrutiny, ethical considerations, and the well-being of individuals over the allure of quick solutions. The only clear path forward is one grounded in proven therapies, comprehensive research, and unwavering commitment to public health.