In the United States, many individuals seek alternative health care,
seeking either natural or “naturopathic” methods of either maintaining
health or curing illness. Many of these people, and particularly some racial
and ethnic minorities, alternate between alternative remedies and West-
ern biomedical techniques (Barnes et al., 2004). Among Asian Americans,
for example, acupuncture and herbal remedies have long and venerated
traditions for both preventing and curing illnesses. Many Latinos rely on
a method of holistic healing called curanderismo,although they proba-
bly do so infrequently and in combination with more conventional bio-
medical therapies. Taken together, people spend more money on
unconventional therapies (including vitamin supplements, massages, spir-
itual healing) than they do for all hospitalizations (Weiss and Lonnquist,
2000). Some alternative health care practitioners, such as chiropractors,
have sought medical legitimacy and are licensed as health care providers. Others are
unregulated and unlicensed and are therefore not subject to any governmental regu-
lation or scrutiny.
Health Care Reform
In the United States, efforts to reform the health care system have been shaped by the
powerful lobbying efforts by the health insurance companies, the pharmaceutical com-
panies, and the professional associations of doctors. These efforts have expanded the
HEALTH AS AN INSTITUTION 549Genetic Testing
Genetic testing is a relatively new area of study and medical practice. With this testing, doctors
can determine whether a person or a fetus has the potential to develop a wide range of disor-
ders. There is controversy surrounding genetic testing and whether it has the potential to do
more harm than good. For example, with genetic testing, women can find out if they are predis-
posed to breast cancer and can take preventative measures. On the other hand, parents can
screen fetuses for potential genetic abnormalities and use this information as a deciding factor
in abortion. So, what do you think?16.2
What
do
youthink
1.Some people say that genetic screening may cause
trouble. Others think it is a wonderful medical
advance. Based on what you know, do you think
genetic screening will do more harm than good or
more good than harm?
❍Good more than harm
❍Harm more than good2.Today, tests are being developed that make it possi-
ble to detect serious genetic defects before a baby is
born. But so far, it is impossible either to treat or to
correct most of them. If you or your partner was
pregnant, would you want her to have a test to find
out if the baby had any serious genetic defects?
❍Have test
❍Not have test?
See the back of the chapter to compare your answers to national survey data.A 2005 report by the National Committee
for Quality Assurance calculated that if all
health plans performed at the level of the
best-performing health plans, it would save
between $2.8 and $4.2 billion in medical
costs, avoid 83 million sick days, and
increase U.S. productivity by $13.5 billion
a year (cited in Davis, 2006).Didyouknow
?