Toward the bottom of page 283 of
Justin Lehmiller’s textbook (The Psychology of Human Sexuality, 2014), a
comment is made in chapter 11 on Sexually Transmitted Infections. Within a segment focused on introducing some
information on gonorrhea, specifically.
It is the latter part of the sentence, more so than the subject matter,
that this student finds disturbing;
“…at the same time, drug
manufacturers have very few
new antibiotics in the
pipeline, in large part because they
are relatively
unprofitable to produce at this time.”
This type of revelation is in one
instance, comforting (honesty), yet in so many ways it is thoroughly
disappointing. Is human health care
important, any longer? Are the substantial
pains and sufferings of humans within this capitalist system essentially
rendered irrelevant, or unimportant? How
can a system that has a hand in creating said conditions, turn a blind eye to
the anguish, and torment of the citizens it is theoretically, set up to serve? For a few measly extra bucks??
The Lehmiller text shares that in
the United States alone, there are “approximately 320,000 new cases” of gonorrhea each year.
Would finding a cure, or advanced
treatment options, for a disease that generates (& regenerates) such a
strong per annum ‘customer base,’ prove enticing to companies with eyes
primarily focused on balance sheets, and/or profit-and-loss statements? Is it really all about the money? What happened to serving one’s fellow
(hu)man? Perhaps more importantly, how
will this ugly hyper-materialistic reality shift toward a more public-spirited state?
This student is left with more
questions than answers. And, imagines
that there must be some way, some how, to inform, and influence citizens, with
an aim to foster change.
Michael Flood’s 2011 article in
(Kimmel, et al) Sexualities: Identities,
Behaviors, and Society, is focused on violence against women and “the
spectrum of prevention”; yet does a
wonderful job outlining steps necessary to begin what one imagines may provide
a ‘universal’ plan for intervention, regardless of the social malady. Flood’s steps:
1. Strengthening individual knowledge and
skills.
2. Promoting community education
3. Educating providers
4. Engaging, strengthening, and mobilizing
communities.
5. Changing
6. Influencing policies and legislation
Can a ‘plan’ such as Flood’s help enable
a shift in drug manufacturers, and health care providers’ working patterns with
patients?
If, the knowledge of above mentioned
‘out-of-balance’ socio-economic situations were spread (half as fast as
gonorrhea…) throughout the nation, with increasing levels of community
education, (billboard?) advertising, and media promotions, simultaneously… that
might start the ball-a-rollin.’
If health care providers had more of
a choice, or say, in what types of treatments their patient base required… and
were encouraged to speak up, and speak out...
If drug representatives were, for
instance, discouraged from actively ‘hyper-hocking’ all the bright and shiny
new products---with the (hidden) juicy spiffs, & big fat bonuses
attached---and instead provided more of a conduit, or resource that doctors and
practitioners could use to facilitate treatment and healing…
If pro-health, and pro-humanity
(rather than pro-business) groups could find strong voice, and become
visible---sharing some of the ugly truths with the masses about how and why
treatments are, or are not available…
Perhaps, some type of positive
change, and movement toward more humanitarian care efforts may unfold.
SOURCES:
Kimmel,
et al; Sexualities: Identities,
Behaviors, and Society. Second
Edition. New York: Oxford University Press. 2004-15.
Print.
Lehmiller,
Justin J.; The Psychology of Human Sexuality.
West Sussex, UK: Wiley
Blackwell. 2014. Print.
PHOTO:
JBuk,
stock.
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