Whatever knocked me out for the last week really got me good - I was horridly sick for quite a few days. So I apologize for the lack of updates, but I'll make it up to you, I promise.

In the theme of being sick, a good friend of mine who has ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease, alerted me of this one. The Northern New England region Walk to D'feet ALS has a few walks coming up in September to raise funds for research. There are walks in other regions too, I just figured I would encourage this one - wink wink.

Of course, I can't post something about health without putting in my two cents. Don't roll your eyes just yet, and I know it's hard to resist, especially for those of you that actually know me personally - but I do have a genuine gripe with health care associations.

The money trail

My favorite thing is to follow the money trail, because that tends to lead to the guy in the soft cushy seat who is pulling all the strings. With health care associations, granted they are at least trying to do a good thing - and I definitely condone supporting research - but there's just one aspect that hangs me up.

First, the money trail. Doctors pay membership fees to the association, who in turn pays scientists to research the disease, who are also funded by Big Pharma to produce drugs to treat the disease. Big Pharma then goes to the doctors and pays them to prescribe these medications to you.

Oh, you didn't know that part, did you? Yes, it is common practice, and perfectly legal, for doctors to receive kickbacks for prescribing certain medications to their patients. Think about that next time you see a drug advertised as being the "#1 prescribed medication."

Money corrupts

Now to go back to health associations, I'm sure you know how well money corrupts. These fundraisers provide associations with funds without strings or stipulations. They essentially have no moral or legal obligation, however if they can't "look busy" then they obviously wouldn't get your money, right?

The only real steady income these guys get is from their doctors' membership fees. So guess whose interests are being served. The doctors'. So guess what their real objective is. Making sure their doctors keep making money.

...and how do doctors keep making money? By having a constant stream of patients, of course.

Of course, that's not in the forefront of their minds, but at the end of the day, that is a doctor's concern. Business is business after all. Think about that next time you're on their table.