Incisions
The Pain Perspective Getting over the sense of entitlement could be a painful experience according to pain physician and anaesthetist, Dr Max Majedi.
A
s we navigate through the rising issues such as climate change, ageing population, obesity, human and animal rights, the common denominator is the concept of sustainability. It is quite evident there needs to be a dramatic course change. Health is no exception. As a pain specialist, I am often troubled by the approach that we have to health care in Australia and the rest of the world. This is in conjunction with the innate inequality that exists between the first world and the developing countries, generally at the expense of unnecessary and preventable human suffering.
Pain medicine has seen incredible advancements in science, technology, pharmacology and paradigm shifts, putting the concept of pain in line with other medical issues. Combined with scanning technology such as Functional MRIs, PET scans and higher quality research, we have begun to look further inside the inner mechanics of the human brain and construct a map that for the first time closes the gap between the duality of psychology and biology.
However, despite increasing access to many analgesics, especially opioids, invasive interventions such as nerve blocks and spinal cord stimulation, psychological and physiological intervention, we are no closer to improvement of overall quality of life in patients.
imbursements, false expectations and personal beliefs, the foundation of pain medicine is a bio-psycho-social paradigm.
The rise in health cost is matched by the ageing population and an increasing burden of self-inflicted or preventable injuries from antisocial behaviour related to drugs and alcohol. All of which have a high potential for persistent pain.
Fuelled by the corporate structure of health care we are heavily persuaded to further entrench the biological component in the face of looming psychosocial factors, and ‘medicalising’ further the non-organic psychosocial issues, which inevitably lead to iatrogenesis.
We have an arsenal of treatments for the biological component, some for the psychological, and next to nothing for the social.
We are in an age of ‘entitlement’ whereby we expect cheap, readily accessible health care that should be fully accountable, and responsible, irrespective of the demands we put on our own health and the cost to society.
I think, perhaps, it is time to rethink the equation so that the generation after us is not faced with poor access to health care. This can only be done if the majority of practitioners can place ethics, rationality and health of a society with focus on education, prevention and realistic expectations, ahead of short-term, unsuitable commercial and political gains. O
As my more senior colleagues retire, there is the inevitable realisation that we all have to do more with less resources and that simply relying on advancement in technology is not going to change the current unsustainable course.
ED: Dr Max Majedi is Acting Head of Department of Pain Management, SCGH
Irrespective of pain medicine’s in-built biases, shaped by ill-placed financial re-
Rooftop terrace with BBQ area and MasterChef style kitchen perfect for client functions and staff events. Rooftop gym, a great staff incentive.
YOUR NEW CONSULTING SPACE
Meet with our architects to discuss your fit out requirements. Great location opposite St John of God Hospital. Huge signage opportunities, perfectly located on Salvado Road. Secure underground parking.
Secure with just 5% deposit
Plenty of visitor parking and the train station within walking distance.
Completion due August 2014 Spaces available from 80–223sqm
northone.com.au Matthew Smith Pindan Realty 0430 766 360 | (08) 9471 5412 | Matthew.smith@pindan.com.au medicalforum
Another quality development by
Built by
11