Barbara J. Hamby

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Lemmings or Robots

Two seemingly unrelated news stories I’ve heard, one today, the other in the last week or so, raise questions in my mind.

Today I heard about robots being trained to interact with humans, even make eye contact, while communicating with one or more persons. The story went on to point out the many possibilities for using such robots. There go more jobs, probably. As long as Maytag doesn’t manufacture the robots, at least they will need technicians to keep them operational. That could be highly specialized work, however.

Recently I read or heard on TV news, I can’t remember which, a story about doctors who are dismayed at the number of patients who come in asking for specific drugs they’ve learned about on television commercials. It takes more of the doctors’ time to research the new drugs, discuss them with the patients, and prescribe them at the insistence of people for whom there may be better alternatives.

What amazes me is that anyone who has listened to the pharmaceutical companies’ disclaimers and long lists of side effects, would even consider asking for these medications. When I hear an announcer rattle off in a monotone such phrases as “May cause nausea, diarrhea, heart attacks,” etc. etc., I wouldn’t go near that stuff with a ten-foot pole, as the saying goes. Sometimes they go on to say, “If you have certain conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, are pregnant or may become pregnant, you should not use (product name).” Probably half of us have at least one of the many conditions they list.

Has the American public become a bunch of robots, following the advice of advertisers like lemmings?  Although I don’t consider doctors to be omniscient and God-like, they usually have more medical education than I, so why should I tell them what to prescribe for me? Furthermore, if I receive a specific drug at my own request, and it maims or kills me, what recourse do I have?

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