Becoming a doctor or a researcher or a scientist nowadays begins with a dozen or more years of training and education following high school: four years of undergraduate college work, then either four years of medical school or about that number of years of graduate work in science.
Unfortunately, major changes in thought are often provoked by disastrous personal experiences. Mine came about when my two younger sons were diagnosed with autism in the 90s. Despite the increasing prevalence, the medical authorities seemed unconcerned about it. There were also attempts to explain the increase as better diagnosis or recognition, an explanation I found absurd, since severe autism is catastrophically obvious. Even more absurd was the contention that large numbers of autistics have always been with us, as though adults who can't speak, wear diapers and engage in repetitive activities were not noticed in the past. I came to the conclusion that the disease was mostly iatrogenic, which led me to skepticism about current medical treatment in general. Public revelations about research fraud, criminal activity by pharmaceutical corporations, and popular medical treatments of dubious value reinforced my skepticism. Corruption is deeply engrained in the scientific and medical establishments and has done great harm. There is no easy solution, as they are wealthy, powerful, and politically influential.
Unfortunately, major changes in thought are often provoked by disastrous personal experiences. Mine came about when my two younger sons were diagnosed with autism in the 90s. Despite the increasing prevalence, the medical authorities seemed unconcerned about it. There were also attempts to explain the increase as better diagnosis or recognition, an explanation I found absurd, since severe autism is catastrophically obvious. Even more absurd was the contention that large numbers of autistics have always been with us, as though adults who can't speak, wear diapers and engage in repetitive activities were not noticed in the past. I came to the conclusion that the disease was mostly iatrogenic, which led me to skepticism about current medical treatment in general. Public revelations about research fraud, criminal activity by pharmaceutical corporations, and popular medical treatments of dubious value reinforced my skepticism. Corruption is deeply engrained in the scientific and medical establishments and has done great harm. There is no easy solution, as they are wealthy, powerful, and politically influential.