Medical Tourism - Understanding the Risks

While costs of many elective surgeries and medical procedures continues to rise in the US, many people considering going under the knife are looking abroad for cost cutting options. This blossoming industry, known as Medical Tourism, must be approached with even greater caution than surgery in the United States. It is big business, and potential patients are often lured overseas by the promise of quality medical care for as little as one tenth the cost of the same procedure in the US. There are, however, significantly more risks associated with having surgery in a foreign country than there are in the US. We will examine a few of these risks in the following paragraphs.

Licensing and Certification Issues

One of the first things to consider is that foreign countries often do not regulate medical certification and licensing as strictly as the United States. While it is true that many overseas doctors are indeed highly qualified, it is important to investigate the specific credentials and references of each practitioner. This effort may be tougher than usual, since prospective patients in general are far less educated about foreign medical associations and regulations than domestic ones. Most often these medical facilities are privately owned, which can make checking the credentials of surgeons, anesthesiologists, and medical staff all the more difficult.

Legal Issues

Since United States law is rarely enforceable overseas, patients who choose Medical Tourism will have little if any legal recourse in the event that something goes wrong with the procedure. Medical malpractice and negligence can become much tougher issues to deal with in a foreign country than here in the United States. The limited ability to litigate in non-US countries is one reason that the cost of procedures overseas is able to be kept so low. Certainly some countries that market themselves as superior hosts for the medical tourist also tout some form of legal recourse in the case of negligence or malpractice, but these means may not be exactly what the patient is expecting. Hospitals and doctors in certain countries may not be able to pay out a settlement should you successfully win your suit against them. Personal medical insurance will rarely cover procedures that take place out of the country. The prospect of complications long after the patient is back home further muddy the waters of any legal issues that may arise.

Ethical Issues

While many will argue that Medical Tourism is a safe and viable outlet for quality medical care, there are other camps that point out that ethical issues may still exist that should cause American consumers to be extremely wary of going abroad for surgery. In countries such as China and India, there are still alleged instances of illegal purchases of tissues and organs used for transplant surgeries. A broader ethical issue that has grown along with the industry itself is the impact of Medical Tourism on citizens of the countries that people are flocking to in order to have these procedures performed. According to recent reports out of Thailand, doctors in the country have become so busy treating Medical Tourists that Thai patients are now having trouble getting quality care. If this trend continues, expect some backlash in the United States towards those choosing to go abroad for medical procedures.

Follow Up Care Issues

While many have had success going to a foreign country for surgery, some glowing reviews are later retracted because of post-surgery issues. Doctors in the US constantly see patients who have returned from surgery overseas, only to experience complications that require further medical assistance. In this situation it is ideal to revisit the same surgeon that performed the procedure, as he or she will be most familiar with the patient as well as the exact nature of the procedure. However it is most often impractical to arrange another trip abroad for a checkup or to fix a minor problem caused by the initial surgery. This can make it difficult for your home doctor to provide the precise care that would have been easy to provide had the surgery taken place in the US. In some cases the discount a patient enjoyed on the initial surgery may be offset by costly follow up visits required to monitor recovery or correct errors once back home in the United States.

Explore Stateside Options First

With many American surgeons now offering affordable financing options for elective procedures, those thinking of traveling halfway around the globe should take a long look at the many safe, affordable options available here in the United States. In the end, a perceived bargain on a medical procedure may end up costing far more than imagined in terms of money, time, and long term health issues. Patients should carefully weigh the pros and cons of Medical Tourism, taking into account lengthy international travel and the increased number of risks associated with Medical Tourism.

About the Author

Dr. Gerald Kirshenbaum performs gastric Lap Band surgery in Denver, Colorado. He has performed gastric surgeries since 1989, accommodating patients from all over the United States. He accepts out of state patients with minimal office visits prior to scheduling Colorado Lap Band surgery. Lap Band surgery offers the advantages of reduced postoperative pain, shortened hospital stay and quicker recovery than other bariatric surgeries.

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Honey and Its Uses As a Local Healing Medicine and a Natural Antibiotic

Talking about good things to enjoy in pure honey as the world most complete food. It is the only food source known to contain twenty two nutrients for a balanced nutrition. Honey is medicinal, a natural antibiotic and multivitamins. It is a complete natural health formula as it has both preventive and curative medical power. "You will be very healthy and will notice it if it is taken regularly as it will become more of a preventive therapy than curative". The statistical data have linked sugar consumption with diabetes, high level of cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and short life span. Sugar is also referred to as dead and lifeless food with no nutritional value. Also regular consumption of sugar has hazardous and fatal consequences on health.

Honey is also said to be the only animal carbohydrates available to man by nature as sweetener. It is also the mildest, easiest to digest and easily assimilated by the body even with those having digestion problem. In fact, honey is the best source of quick and lasting energy." Even nutritionists have prove that all organs in the body such as the heart, kidneys, liver etc respond favourably well only to natural, undiluted honey and function optimally when taken regularly. "It is natural vitamins and minerals. It contains low calories and honey is ideal for weight watchers; good health and for general well being" of the body with instant natural energy and stamina to undertake daily activities.

Furthermore, honey contains natural anti-bacterial and other healing properties which assist in fighting and protecting from diseases. It can be used to treat eye diseases both in children and adults. It can also be used as a first aid treatment for those with burns. The healing effects of honey cannot be underestimated as it contain anti-microbial properties. Honey can also be used to treat ear infections, boost fertility and the mode of application.

Also talking about the healing properties of honey, honey has a long history dated to centuries and its use is without any side effect, provided it is not diluted or mixed with any other chemicals. "Honey is far better than sugar, saccharines, artificial sweeteners and other chemically formulated sweeteners. Many pharmaceutical companies uses it to formulate drugs as well as used it to coat many drugs. To be precise, many of the cough syrups are honey-based and have even shown that low calorie health food such as pure honey, if taken regularly, prolongs life and slow down the aging process".

Honey can be mixed with black soap to bath. This has the ability of renewing skin cells and moisturises the skin. Honey can also be used to fight many skin diseases or other dermal infections. To prepare honey-based anti-fungal, anti-bacterial lotion, mix natural sulfur with and regularly applied it regularly on skin infections or diseases. It is very most advisable for every one to emulate the interest of using honey in meals instead of sugar since honey has more trends health solutions than that of sugar whose the only advantage of it is just the sweet taste only but very destructive to human beings.

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How to Pick Out and Prepare Herbal Medicines

The use of herbal medicines in today's modern treatment is widely accepted by both common individuals and health experts. In fact, the use of this alternative method of healing alongside modern treatment methods is known to cure common illnesses and in treating major diseases like diabetes, tumor, cancer, and so on.

But this contemporary method, in itself, is not enough to help patients relieve their health problems. Proper prescription and instructions in taking in herbal medicine is necessary for a successful treatment.

Consult A Professional

Consulting a doctor or an herbalist in the use of herbal medicine should be your paramount concern to avoid health risks and problems later on. They will be delving into your medical history by asking certain question regarding current medical treatment, family history of health problems, and so on. You need to answer their questions honestly so that they can arrive at an accurate diagnosis of your health problem to prescribe the proper herbal medicine and instructions for treatment.

Look For Quality

In truth, herbal medicine is cheaper compared to many synthetic drugs today, especially for major health problems. When picking them out as treatment, it would be best to look for quality instead of picking out the cheapest product.

You should also be careful in buying herbal medicine since many scammers and fraud are propagating the market with fake products that can pose a major health risk when taken in. It would be best to ask your doctor or herbalist on the best place to buy these medicines, or some advice on how to separate the real ones from the fakes.

Going Out For Natural

It is true that you can buy herbal medicines by the dozen in herbal stores in your area; but the essence of herbal medicines comes from using the curative properties that comes from real, live plants. You can ask your doctor or herbalist on what plants you can buy in your area as treatment, or you can scout around medical sites on the Internet for lists of plants with known curative properties.

When preparing plants as an alternative cure, you need to make sure that it is grown naturally without the use of chemicals and pesticides to avoid side-effects and poisoning. You need to clean it thoroughly with running water to remove dirt and harmful bacteria.

There are plenty of ways to prepare your herbal medicine as a diet supplement. You can take it in raw as a salad, boiled, or even sautéed with your favorite dish. Whatever the method used, you need to first determine the part of the plant that will be most beneficial to your treatment method, as well as maximizing its curative properties. Next, you need to look for instructions on the best way to prepare it so that it would be an effective treatment to your health problem.

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