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Health-Care
Reform In Medical Research
Shaun
Kerry, M.D.
Diplomate,
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Although
we are all
different
and learn in different ways, I believe that the best way to
learn about medical research is to actually conduct such research. |
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There
are many people who,
from a very early age, pursue science as a hobby. They
love it until it is stuffed down their throats.
Granted,
there is a basic fund of knowledge that all
scientists must know,
but this can be learned without 'stuffing'. Even
so, the essence of science remains exploration,
rather than consumption of facts. An
ideal situation would be the creation of
community research laboratories.
The
most logical place for such laboratories would
be in the schools. It has
been my experience that canned textbook experiments
are unproductive as teaching tools. They
are often both tedious and quickly forgotten. If
an experience is not remembered, then real
learning has not occurred. Audiovisual
tools are an excellent way of teaching
science fundamentals. They would make
learning more enjoyable for students and less
burdensome for the already overworked teachers.
Research
within the schools should be facilitated by
networked communication
with other schools and research facilities. Many
researchers would gladly donate their time
to explain their research processes to students.
Current research would be augmented by the
combined efforts of millions of students worldwide;
this could prove to be quite a powerful tool. These
students would be thrilled to know that they
were actively involved in contributing to both
medical and scientific discoveries.
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Children
instinctively know what they need. As
adults, our job is to listen, observe, and make
ourselves available. Our job is not, however, to control. Those
who are controlling are often mindless and damaging to
other people.
Children
do not require our control,
but rather, our encouragement to explore
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universe and express their uniqueness. Once we understand
the needs of the individual student, we can provide the kind
of environment and the amount of structure that is most appropriate. Our
current system of educating young people is a dehumanizing
rat-race of mindless over-activity. Furthermore, it
is a waste of human potential.
One
day, we will truly listen to and understand
the needs of others. We will
begin striving to attain mindfulness, much
as we presently strive to attain athletic fitness. One
day, mindfulness will be a household word.
John
Martin, M.D. Ph.D. operates his own community
laboratory in Rosemead,
California. Volunteers are frequently
invited to visit and participate in conducting
research. Although his equipment is mostly
a surplus collection of remnants from someone
else's government grant, it is very sophisticated. Various
people donate time, money, and equipment to
make it a success. A great many small
research companies are being created across
the globe; many of which welcome volunteers,
much like the aforementioned laboratory.
Communication
tools have become
affordable, and widely available. There
is an incredible network of people who, driven
either by a love of their subject or by the
necessity of their illness, join together in
an information exchange forum to discuss a
countless array of subjects. This is
real education. It is free. It
is from the heart.
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