Site Search

Get Luxury News by Email

Live the Good Life

Categories more

Sections

Other

Experimental Treatment: The Yay and Nay of Trying Other Options

Be the first to review this item!

Published
08/07/2024

Medicine is a science, and like all sciences it is constantly exploring new horizons to refine and expand what it can do. For patients, this can lead to interesting options when it comes to dealing with a health problem, particularly one which has proved resistant to the usual options. Experimental treatments can offer hope to people with intractable health issues, but nothing is uncomplicatedly good or bad. 

Medical science is not about the black and white. You may hear incredible claims made for experimental options from one side. From another, you may hear that the same options are “quackery” or “snake oil”. In truth, the reality will often be in the gray area in between the two, so below we will look at some of the positives and some of the negatives that can arise when exploring your healthcare options.

They can be hard to access

Doctors are often accused by experimental health evangelists of being blockers of progress. This is broadly unfair. There’s a reason doctors go with what is tried and tested most of the time. Using an experimental treatment when there were other options can lead to losing their medical malpractice insurance if they’re not extremely careful. Sometimes, the only way to get an innovative treatment can be to get a place on a medical trial, and this is rarely as easy as it sounds; these trials are frequently very exclusive.

They can be genuinely revolutionary

Traditionalists may tell you that when unconventional medicine works, it as adopted by medical professionals and becomes, simply, medicine. But run that sentence back - there is always a space between “we don’t know if this works” and “this works”. Some people, who have been sick for some time, need to see improvements in their outlook if the experimental medicine is to become a more long-term solution. Those people need to try the unconventional option before we can know if it works. So if it is an option for you, it may well be worth considering.

They may work best alongside more conventional options

It is advisable to inform yourself completely about any experimental treatment you want to try, before you invest yourself in the idea of it changing your life. As we have said, the gray areas are often where the truth lies. Both experimental and traditional advocates are often guilty of sensationalizing the benefits of their option and the negatives of the other. In truth, sometimes an experimental option works best as an augmentation of what is already available. Be careful not to assume that the new option is a replacement for the treatment you’re getting; sometimes, the best of both is what you need.

They may come at a cost

Most importantly of all, there is the matter of price to be considered in adopting any health option. This is crucial when it comes to experimental choices, because there’s a very real chance that they won’t be covered by insurance. This is something that needs to be discussed with your insurer; the best case scenario is that they will cover the new treatment. The worst case is that even if you self-pay, the adoption of an experimental treatment may invalidate your claim for any conventional treatment for the same condition. Have these conversations up front, and you can always ensure you’re giving yourself the best chance.

Comments