We now live in an era where there is a medical device for most problems. Case and point, we can now replace a “degenerating hip”, fix a “dysfunctional heart”, prevent an unwanted pregnancy, “lift” a falling organ, drain unnecessary fluid from the central nervous system, and “stimulate” a “faulty brain”. And that is just the tip of the iceberg of the $400 billion dollar medical device industry. Some devices are literally “life-saving”. Some are “life-optimizing”. However, there are a handful of medical devices, that have been infected (quite literally), with the poisons that have existed since the beginning of human existence, greed and corruption.
Released in 2018, The Bleeding Edge investigative journalists Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering expose a small set of implanted medical devices known to cause great harm. And the stories they uncover of real people who have suffered from these failures are both heartbreaking and infuriating. It is clear in the film that most devices are safe and effective and the devices mentioned in this film are more the exceptions than the “rule”.
Now, I was aware of the recall of the total hip replacement implants that contained cobalt. What I didn’t know, was how this product came to market. In particular, the lack of testing, and the ease at which this product was able to get approved. Beyond that, the dismissal of patient complaints including both physical and mental impairments.
The next device highlighted in the film was the Essure insert, a non-hormonal birth control device approved by the FDA despite reports of serious harm. But the real tragedy in this story, is that attempts at removal remain incomplete and fragments remain causing jaw-dropping, life-altering complications that you must see to believe.
My take-away from this film, is NOT distrust all of medicine or medical devices. However, what I think you will come to understand, is that YOU are your number one advocate. In other words, listen to the doctors (most of whom have your best interest at heart), but do your research prior to consenting to a procedure where a foreign object of any kind will be inserted into your body.
Way to watch The Bleeding Edge
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