Posted by Racer on January 31, 2004, at 13:56:15
In reply to What 8 meant, posted by 8 Miles on January 31, 2004, at 10:07:16
Sorry, this just occurred to me:
The really sad part of the debate transcript we're talking about is that a couple of valid points from the Szasz team got buried as kindling for their ridiculous bonfire.
One of those points is that labels make it easier to discount those carrying them. Another is that many patients need more than *just* medication in their treatment, and the disease label encourages insurance companies to limit access to psychotherapy. And, lastly, that many patients improve when they can take positive steps towards recovery, rather than passively taking pills to "cure" a "disease." I do think those are valid points for discussion. I just don't think that they were presented in a manner that allowed them to be considered.
I find that very sad. If a more reasoned speaker had said something more like, "I distrust the possible responses from insurance companies to the labelling of depression as a disease, because I think it would be likely to have a negative impact on patient care," I think a lot of us might be more inclined to consider that topic. I also think it might be a good topic for discussion. It's only because they throw in all the bathwater to make sure the baby goes down the drain, too, that we react so strongly to the whole subject.
In the case of this particular debate team, I do not see them as well intentioned but misguided. I see them as three men pushing their own agenda without regard for anyone else. It is an example, though, of how many well intentioned people make mistakes that diminish the power of their arguments. For that reason, reading that transcript was a learning opportunity for me, and I don't begrudge the time it took, nor the expense of hip waders and a machete to get through it all.
There. That's my opinion, for what it's worth, and it's cheap at half the price.
poster:Racer
thread:306610
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040131/msgs/307753.html