Isn Western medicine better than non-Western medicine?
Answering questions like this is always difficult because when comparing things you need to be very explicit regarding what you are comparing. In many ways Western medicine is better than non-Western medicine, however, it is not better in every way. Modern medications, surgical procedures, and treatments are safer and more effective than those of traditional societies. However, it is important to point out some of the problems of Western medicine. For example, some of the questionable features of Western medicine include an overprescription of tranquilizers and drugs, lots of unnecessary surgery, and the impersonality and inequality of the patient-doctor relationship. More importantly, traditional medicine does not distinguish between biological and psychological causation. Traditional curers focus on the combination of physical, emotional, and social causes that can lead to poor health. As a result, traditional curers often succeed with health problems that Western medicine classifies
