Pathways to Conscious Health

Who owns Health Care?

By Dr Catherine Fyans

It is quite an interesting concept and, to me, a bizarre notion that any organisation, institution, bureaucratic body or individual can deem that they own health care – and by extension, own any individual’s health. And, if they own any individual’s health, they, by extension, own the individual. What is even more bizarre is that the majority of people go along with this, without question or a sideways glance.

We give power to those who appear to have power over us. We are currently seeing the zenith of this dynamic; the dynamic between those who assume ownership and control of everyone and anyone’s health, and those who willingly hand over any personal autonomy to those who assume that control. Much easier, in the short term, to listen to the most powerful voice, the great ‘They’.

“What is even more bizarre is that the majority of people go along with this, without question or a sideways glance.”

Not to blame anyone because, to be fair, we have long been programmed to get to this point. Humans are innately and innocently gullible and

impressionable and thus very programmable and controllable. However, despite our proneness to being so easily swayed, we are ultimately responsible for our own beings.

There can certainly be a laziness factor, an apathy, in handing over that power to the assumed experts and authorities. We have been long trained to do so and it takes a certain effort to even want to turn that ship around. Why even bother, when everything is ticking along so nicely? But is it!?

“In fact, taking back the responsibility for one’s own health is a terrifying prospect for many people.”

With freedom comes self-responsibility and clearly many just do not want this, preferring to remain in the infantilised state of unquestioning obedience to those who assume positions of ‘authority’ and control over those who are more than willing to relinquish it. In fact, taking back the responsibility for one’s own health is a terrifying prospect for many people who prefer to not even contemplate that possibility.

Ideally, we are our own authorities. We can be fully responsible for our own health, while also receiving guidance from ethical health authorities and our health care providers. They can then remain in the role of information providers, facilitators, therapists and maybe advocates.

At a deep, unconscious level, we base our survival on our adopted beliefs and thus will not want to relinquish them readily. Our beliefs are our reality and our understanding of how we can survive it, our ‘ground-rules for life’; therefore, they can be exceedingly tenacious. The collective consciousness, what society has agreed upon, has enormous influence on what we individually believe and maybe no more so than in the area of health.

“Why is Western, allopathic medicine considered to be the ‘gold standard’ of health care?”

Why is Western, allopathic medicine considered to be the ‘gold standard’ of health care? And for that matter, who actually decides what health and healing are? Is it removal of a symptom, the gaining of an important insight, the changing of a belief or attitude, longevity or even a peaceful death? Who is the final arbiter of what health and healing are? I would have thought that healing is a very personal thing and not to be dictated by some external authority or anyone else.

The hubris of some cultures, with their paradigms and systems of belief, will have them assume superiority over others, particularly in the health care arena. Why is a shamanic healing tradition or energy medicine, considered to be less acceptable than the allopathic-driven chemical/ mechanical approach to health care? Yes, different disciplines are better in different

areas, yet maybe they all have their place and can offer their niched perspectives, understandings and techniques when needed, rather than one system being cast as superior to any other.

Paradigm shifts can be very unsettling, and indeed destabilising, for those heavily invested in old systems and beliefs. Particularly when their income, status, inclusion in society, ways of being and sense of security is tied up with them. However, we do not go through massive global crises, such as we have experienced over the last few years, without there being some fundamental change resulting from them. In fact, it could not be any other way. There will be no going back to ‘business as usual’.

“It is sobering indeed when the buck stops here.”

Many are seeking ‘freedom’ and many forget that with freedom comes great personal responsibility. No-one to blame if things go wrong, no lapsing into victimhood. It is sobering indeed when the buck stops here. However, many prefer to embrace that exhilarating possibility rather than live a sort of dependent pseudo-life on their knees.

As old systems crumble, our greatest responsibility is to create the new for ourselves, humanity in general, our descendants and the planet. Rehashing the past just will not cut it as we, by necessity, are forced to find novel ways to survive life and hopefully thrive beyond what we can even imagine.

Dr Catherine is a retired medical practitioner and author of The Wounding of Health Care.

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