Nocebo effect, not placebo effect: Induced illness studied
After reading the article above from sciencedaily.com I remember my son's experience at the hands of a doctor at Brent Hospital on April of this year (2012).
It was a terribly busy afternoon preparing for the Mindanao Islamic Education Conference 2012 when I received a frantic call from my mother telling me to come home immediately. I couldn't understand what she was saying and I kept asking her to repeat again and again. After a while my father took the phone away from her told me to come home as soon as possible because "your son Khalid cut his middle finger half of its diameter". And so I came home and brought him immediately to the nearest hospital - the Brent Hospital. At this time the bleeding has already stopped, this brought to me comfort knowing that none of his arteries were damaged.
Soon enough we were in the Emergency Room and Khalid's middle finger was examined by the Emergency doctor who couldn't decide what to do with my son because "his finger is small". A decision was made to call a specialist surgeon, whose name we will not mention, to examine my son. After some time the doctor arrived, saw and examined my son and said:
"He needs general anesthesia because of the terrible pain of injecting anesthesia to the finger and he has to be admitted".
Ready to do everything possible and halal for my son, I almost accepted his advice except that general knowledge informs us that general anesthesia should not be used unless really necessary. At this juncture, I sought the advice of my mother who was in the waiting room. She and I were thinking the same. It is also worth noting that at this critical time of decision making and informing consent, we were not informed about the cost of the whole process - anesthesiologist, surgeon, hospital admission and medicine. Alhamdulillah, coming from the health profession I inquired about the cost and it was between twenty to thirty thousand pesos.
Even at that time I was still ready to shoulder the cost for the sake of my son. But a little voice in my head was telling me not to because of the risk and side effects of general anesthesia to my son's health. Besides he already had a general anesthesia few years back when he was circumsized.
Going back to the treatment room, cold and dry ambiance, Khalid was lying on the plinth with a bright light shining at him. A nurse was there and of course, the doctor was there. My son was terrified upon hearing the ordeal he is about to face. That excruciating pain that the doctor was telling me in front of my son again and again brought him to shiver. He was almost crying when he heard what the doctor said.
The doctor was very insistent to do the general anesthesia emphasizing the terrible pain my son would experience. I can understand at that time what the doctor was trying to do. Patient and family education is necessary to for inform consent . But the way he was doing it was to me at that time 'dubious' and at this time 'uninformed'.
Imagine yourself, a young person of twelve, being indirectly told that you will suffer the most painful experience of your life repeatedly again and again while you are lying helplessly on a treatment room with a bright light shining on you? Even now, I still feel the terror he was experiencing. At that time, my son was even refusing for them to touch his hand, what more of injection and suturing it.
I made a decision not to give general anesthesia despite the doctor's 'advice'. The nurse was ordered to
'prep' understandably for infection control. My son's eyes flooded with tears. I turn his head to me and told me to look me in the eye. The nurse damp the wound with Betadine and it was at this time Khalid was really in pain. I was almost on the brink of regret why I decided against general anesthesia.
But magically after a while the pain subsided. Then local anesthesia was given and the suturing began. At this time Khalid was calm and I was even making jokes that made him smile while the doctor was suturing his finger.
After the whole thing, I was surprised to hear what Khalid, my dear son said:
"The most painful part was administering Betadine"!
"The injection was not that painful and I didn't feel anything during suturing".
Alhamdulillah we went home. I was driving silently. Khalid was with my mom at the back of the car. My father was at the front seat. Everyone was relaxed.
At that time, I wasn't aware of the nocebo effect. Because of the doctor's over emphasized 'education' of the possible 'excruciating' experience, my son needlessly suffered.
Think out loud, hit the key boards...edit later.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Three things to be happy today 1
1. I should be happy and thankful today because my boss helped me to solve my problem of not having a secretary for the next few months.
2. I should be happy and thankful today because I feel like my communication skills have improved a bit and that it helped the committee I am in to move forward from a sticky issue. I hope that my persistence in focusing on the issue at hand and expounding all the angles causes an epiphany on the part of my colleague who creatively suggested a solution to the problem.
3. I should be happy and thankful today because I was able to eat my favorite breakfast.
Alhamdulillahi rabbil alameen.
2. I should be happy and thankful today because I feel like my communication skills have improved a bit and that it helped the committee I am in to move forward from a sticky issue. I hope that my persistence in focusing on the issue at hand and expounding all the angles causes an epiphany on the part of my colleague who creatively suggested a solution to the problem.
3. I should be happy and thankful today because I was able to eat my favorite breakfast.
Alhamdulillahi rabbil alameen.
posted from Bloggeroid
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
The First Alien Contact
And so it was said that the most historic moment in human history will be the first ever contact between the human species and aliens. For some this is not a question of 'if' but 'when'. So historic that history will be divided by using 'precontact' and 'postcontact' instead of BC and CE.
Well if we define an alien as something extra terrestial or even extradimensional, then, humans have been in contact with the 'aliens' from the beginning. Prophet Adam alaihissalam was in 'contact' with the angels and Iblees, a jinn.
Further it is argued that these aliens are so advanced in technology that the analogy of possible fighting against them is like fighting using nuclear weapon vs. sponges, we humans of course are the ones with sponges.
Well, again, numerous hadith tells us the ability of Angels and Jinns that are supernatural well beyond the latest technology we have today. Think about how the jinns transported the throne of Queen Bilqees to the palace of prophet Sulaiman.
Historic? Yes so historic these first contacts have been that human history always changes once they happen. When Angel Gabriel came into first contact with the prophet Muhammad, the first chapter of the Quran was revealed. This first event unfolded the the rise of Islamic civilization that spread to east and west and paved the way of lifting out Europe from its Dark Age into its Renaissance.
My main point is that this first contact is not a novel idea to the Muslims and perhaps to the believers of heavenly revealed religions. This idea that beings with higher abilities would come one day to Earth and save us from our self destruction have been done time and over again.
"And I have sent a messenger to every nation proclaiming worship only Allah and avoid worshipping false gods" (Quran 16:36)
Well if we define an alien as something extra terrestial or even extradimensional, then, humans have been in contact with the 'aliens' from the beginning. Prophet Adam alaihissalam was in 'contact' with the angels and Iblees, a jinn.
Further it is argued that these aliens are so advanced in technology that the analogy of possible fighting against them is like fighting using nuclear weapon vs. sponges, we humans of course are the ones with sponges.
Well, again, numerous hadith tells us the ability of Angels and Jinns that are supernatural well beyond the latest technology we have today. Think about how the jinns transported the throne of Queen Bilqees to the palace of prophet Sulaiman.
Historic? Yes so historic these first contacts have been that human history always changes once they happen. When Angel Gabriel came into first contact with the prophet Muhammad, the first chapter of the Quran was revealed. This first event unfolded the the rise of Islamic civilization that spread to east and west and paved the way of lifting out Europe from its Dark Age into its Renaissance.
My main point is that this first contact is not a novel idea to the Muslims and perhaps to the believers of heavenly revealed religions. This idea that beings with higher abilities would come one day to Earth and save us from our self destruction have been done time and over again.
"And I have sent a messenger to every nation proclaiming worship only Allah and avoid worshipping false gods" (Quran 16:36)
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Fiqh of Muslim Minorities
Bismillah walhamdulillah wassaltu wassalamu 'ala Rasoolillah
Islam
There is an All-Knowing All Merciful Lord of the Universe who created human beings on earth although He knew that they will spill blood (Quran 2:30). He placed them therein in order to be His khalifa and should they fufill this, then they would be fulfilling the purpose of their creation - to worship Him alone. In return, Allah sent prophets and messengers (16:36) in order to remind mankind, time and again, about their purpose on this earth.
Maqaasid as Shariah (Objectives of Islamic Law)
The prophets and messengers on the other hand have other secondary missions as well. They also brought laws so that the worship of Allah alone is established and sustained. The Ulama (scholars) of Islam have deduced a number reasons why the Shariah was brought by the prophets. The objectives of Shari'ah are the preservation of:
1. Religion
2. Life
3. Lineage
4. Intellect
5. Property
The Madhahib (sing. Madhhab) evolved inside Muslim Civilization
The Shari'ah is like a blueprint, if you will, from which all the laws, rules and ordinances can be derived. The Shari'ah is immutable yet its application might differ from place or time. Just like the prophets' laws differ in some aspects because they existed in different places and time, the application of Shari'ah of Prophet Muhammad in different parts of Muslim lands might also differ from place and time. This application of Shari'ah can be called Fiqh and as we all know, the Muslim Ummah have different 'Fiqhs' throughout the history of Islam. But we are living in a time so different from the time when the Madhaahib evolved. Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Ash-Shafi'ee, Imam Ahmad, Imam Awzai, Sufyan Ath Thawri and many more lived and passed judgment on Islamic issues while there were living under the protectorate of Islamic 'country' where the Muslims are the overwhelming majority. Therefore, it goes without saying that not all of the issues of contemporary Muslims who are living as minorities are given light inside the books of Madhhabs. There are many causes why there exist Muslim minorities around the world today. This includes the disintegration of the last Caliphate (Ottoman) whereby sections of Muslim areas were occupied and turned into what is now called a 'country'. Further, there were also the case of the Muslims in the Philippines where relatively small sultanates were incorporated into a country. Lastly, immigration in search of greener pastures also causes sizable Muslim minorities such as in the US and other European countries.
The Fiqh of Muslim Minorities
Muslims as minorities face many challenges in their endeavor to be worshipers of Allah. The issues of hijab, beard, Mosques and Minarets, separatism and rebellion, Islamic education, polygamy, confronting Islamophobia, Halal, election and participation in the political process and many more fall into these challenges.
This is a call
This is a call to all who were endowed with the responsibility of guiding the orphans of this Ummah, the Muslim minorities, first and foremest the Ulama from amongst them to come together and define and prioritize the needs of Muslims as minorities. Barakallah feekum
Islam
There is an All-Knowing All Merciful Lord of the Universe who created human beings on earth although He knew that they will spill blood (Quran 2:30). He placed them therein in order to be His khalifa and should they fufill this, then they would be fulfilling the purpose of their creation - to worship Him alone. In return, Allah sent prophets and messengers (16:36) in order to remind mankind, time and again, about their purpose on this earth.
Maqaasid as Shariah (Objectives of Islamic Law)
The prophets and messengers on the other hand have other secondary missions as well. They also brought laws so that the worship of Allah alone is established and sustained. The Ulama (scholars) of Islam have deduced a number reasons why the Shariah was brought by the prophets. The objectives of Shari'ah are the preservation of:
1. Religion
2. Life
3. Lineage
4. Intellect
5. Property
The Madhahib (sing. Madhhab) evolved inside Muslim Civilization
The Shari'ah is like a blueprint, if you will, from which all the laws, rules and ordinances can be derived. The Shari'ah is immutable yet its application might differ from place or time. Just like the prophets' laws differ in some aspects because they existed in different places and time, the application of Shari'ah of Prophet Muhammad in different parts of Muslim lands might also differ from place and time. This application of Shari'ah can be called Fiqh and as we all know, the Muslim Ummah have different 'Fiqhs' throughout the history of Islam. But we are living in a time so different from the time when the Madhaahib evolved. Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Malik, Imam Ash-Shafi'ee, Imam Ahmad, Imam Awzai, Sufyan Ath Thawri and many more lived and passed judgment on Islamic issues while there were living under the protectorate of Islamic 'country' where the Muslims are the overwhelming majority. Therefore, it goes without saying that not all of the issues of contemporary Muslims who are living as minorities are given light inside the books of Madhhabs. There are many causes why there exist Muslim minorities around the world today. This includes the disintegration of the last Caliphate (Ottoman) whereby sections of Muslim areas were occupied and turned into what is now called a 'country'. Further, there were also the case of the Muslims in the Philippines where relatively small sultanates were incorporated into a country. Lastly, immigration in search of greener pastures also causes sizable Muslim minorities such as in the US and other European countries.
The Fiqh of Muslim Minorities
Muslims as minorities face many challenges in their endeavor to be worshipers of Allah. The issues of hijab, beard, Mosques and Minarets, separatism and rebellion, Islamic education, polygamy, confronting Islamophobia, Halal, election and participation in the political process and many more fall into these challenges.
This is a call
This is a call to all who were endowed with the responsibility of guiding the orphans of this Ummah, the Muslim minorities, first and foremest the Ulama from amongst them to come together and define and prioritize the needs of Muslims as minorities. Barakallah feekum
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Some Thoughts During Breakfast
While munching cheese croissant and egg omelet bathed in hot sauce, sipping hot coffee with medium sugar and a teaspoon of coffee mate, I thought about writing in my blog today...Just had conversation with my wife about a Youtube video of a man who insha Allah was a shaheed or martyred in the way of Allah.
Somehow this reminded me of a very subtle thought just like a video surreptitiously playing in the background inside my head. It is quite possible that somebody who would want to work for the betterment of Muslims in Southern Philippines whose ideology does not conform with the status quo might end up being murdered like Dr. Eustaqio III.
In my interrupted attempt to chronicle a semi-fiction version of my childhood and basically my life - The Hero Quest - I actually planned of ending the series with the murder of Ben (Oh sorry - spoiler alert) because he became successful in changing the status quo, that is continuing Manila hegemony over Muslims of Mindanao by perpetuating Oligarchy, divide and rule approach for the revolutionaries, and all out war for the extremists. I think this approach might be strategically correct decades or centuries ago but now rendered outdated if not disadvantageous for both the country and the Muslims in Mindanao especially in the long run.
And then, Dr. Eustaqio was murdered! Whatever the reason(s) maybe, this confirms the video playing in my head.
Somehow this reminded me of a very subtle thought just like a video surreptitiously playing in the background inside my head. It is quite possible that somebody who would want to work for the betterment of Muslims in Southern Philippines whose ideology does not conform with the status quo might end up being murdered like Dr. Eustaqio III.
In my interrupted attempt to chronicle a semi-fiction version of my childhood and basically my life - The Hero Quest - I actually planned of ending the series with the murder of Ben (Oh sorry - spoiler alert) because he became successful in changing the status quo, that is continuing Manila hegemony over Muslims of Mindanao by perpetuating Oligarchy, divide and rule approach for the revolutionaries, and all out war for the extremists. I think this approach might be strategically correct decades or centuries ago but now rendered outdated if not disadvantageous for both the country and the Muslims in Mindanao especially in the long run.
And then, Dr. Eustaqio was murdered! Whatever the reason(s) maybe, this confirms the video playing in my head.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Dr. Ammar Eustaqio working for Peace thru Education
Is working for peace a way to die? As paradoxical as it may sound, this is one of the first thought that crossed my mind when I heard the news of the death of Dr. Arturo 'Ammar' Eustaqio III. Although I don't know him personally and has never met him, deep inside me, I feel an inexplicable 'closeness' to him. Since the time I came to know about his conversion to Islam years ago, there was in me a degree of desire of wanting to know him more. And so I 'googled' him up and searched for his email address, sent it but I got an email failure delivery reply. At that time he wasn't still the president and UZ was still ZAEC.
As an enthusiast in education and specifically Islamic Education, there was a subconscious process in my mind that made the connection between the personality of Dr. Ammar (may Allah have mercy on him) and the education of Muslims in Southwestern Philippines - Zambasulta area (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi). I felt that he can play a vital role in providing education to the underprivileged Muslim youth in a region where literacy rates is among lowest in the country.
At that time (circa 2005), there was an inverse relationship between my interest in education as a means of liberation and my stance towards revolution. My understanding of the Fiqh of Muslim minorities requires the Muslim to be part of the political process and nation building endeavors. When my children got bigger, the psychological demand for quality Islamic education is slowly growing in my head. This led me to a quest of looking for visionaries who shares the same sense of responsibility and urgency. Alhamdulillah for the great visions and amazing intellects of Islamic education advocates like Sherma Sappari, Warina Jukuy and Mark Santos, the Mindanao Islamic Education Conference 2012 will insha Allah transpire on the 10th of April 2012.
Now back to Dr. Ammar, he was supposedly one of the key discussants of the Focus Group Discussion in the conference. For me, it would be a dream came true to finally meet him and hear his thoughts about the role of education of Muslims in Southern Philippines. Universidad de Zamboanga, UZ, has the overwhelming number of share of enrollees in the region 9 area and a lot of Muslim students prefer UZ as their school.
But, Allah has decreed and He does whatever He wills, he was shot dead 9 days before the conference.
Searching again his name in google I came accross a PDF file entitled "Education and Peace". He eloquently expressed that servitude and slavery - in many forms - hasn't vanished in the modern world and that education is the way to freedom. Recognizing that peace can be achieved by giving education to the underprivileged, he wrote:
To end this, I say the same thing Sir...
Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi rajioon.
As an enthusiast in education and specifically Islamic Education, there was a subconscious process in my mind that made the connection between the personality of Dr. Ammar (may Allah have mercy on him) and the education of Muslims in Southwestern Philippines - Zambasulta area (Zamboanga, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi). I felt that he can play a vital role in providing education to the underprivileged Muslim youth in a region where literacy rates is among lowest in the country.
At that time (circa 2005), there was an inverse relationship between my interest in education as a means of liberation and my stance towards revolution. My understanding of the Fiqh of Muslim minorities requires the Muslim to be part of the political process and nation building endeavors. When my children got bigger, the psychological demand for quality Islamic education is slowly growing in my head. This led me to a quest of looking for visionaries who shares the same sense of responsibility and urgency. Alhamdulillah for the great visions and amazing intellects of Islamic education advocates like Sherma Sappari, Warina Jukuy and Mark Santos, the Mindanao Islamic Education Conference 2012 will insha Allah transpire on the 10th of April 2012.
Now back to Dr. Ammar, he was supposedly one of the key discussants of the Focus Group Discussion in the conference. For me, it would be a dream came true to finally meet him and hear his thoughts about the role of education of Muslims in Southern Philippines. Universidad de Zamboanga, UZ, has the overwhelming number of share of enrollees in the region 9 area and a lot of Muslim students prefer UZ as their school.
But, Allah has decreed and He does whatever He wills, he was shot dead 9 days before the conference.
Searching again his name in google I came accross a PDF file entitled "Education and Peace". He eloquently expressed that servitude and slavery - in many forms - hasn't vanished in the modern world and that education is the way to freedom. Recognizing that peace can be achieved by giving education to the underprivileged, he wrote:
'The more “underprivileged” are granted access to educational opportunities, the less “discontents” there will be.'To me, and probably for others as well, I believe that Dr. Ammar, or 'Sir Archie' practiced what he preached. Unlike those who just talk of peace, he practiced it by allowing Muslim student in UZ more freedom to practice their religion while they undergo education and training.
To end this, I say the same thing Sir...
Education for freedom! Let this be our battle cry in our quest for peace.
Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi rajioon.
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