Anyone that thinks the good old days were so great doesn't remember how they really were. I would never want to go back to the days of my childhood or want my grands to live that way either.

Nothing beats the intuition of a mother, nothing. And the best doctors, the most efficient and well trained ones, know this and rely on it. If, when I was a younger mom, I had a doc who didn't 'get this', we weren't their patient very long! And now my daughter is one of those "great" doctors; a pediatrician who is absolutely adored by her patients and their parents. And she's 33 and uses alternative medicine when it's available and useful.

Jan in VA

A mix of both is good. My son has muscular dystrophy and I know exactly which exons on the X chromosome are deleted. He was diagnosed 3-4 years earlier than most boys because I noticed a mildly awkward gait (mothers intuition). They are working on cures at the genetic level. That would not have been possible 10 years ago. To all those who have ever donated to muscular dystrophy association or any other related charity...THANK YOU and treatment is improving by leaps and bounds!

I always check with my hand before even thinking of getting out the thermometer. I had to get a pharmacy to order in good old fashioned under the tongue thermometers for me, all they had were battery powered ones. I am lucky that we get so few fevers in my house that the batteries were always dead when I needed it.

I am happy with modern medicine. My mum recently had cataract surgery on both her eyes, that has not been around for all that long.

I also work for 2 alternative health practitioners and see a place for them in keeping ourselves as healthy was we can be.

I too subscribe to a mix of old and new. Some doctors are extremely good diagnosticians. My husband and son both see a doctor who never gets it wrong (and the further testing proves him right). The majority of mothers and quite a number of dads also know their kids so well....when they say somethings not right...they are to be believed. It still baffles me when I read of cases where a person/child has been presented at an emergency room, patted on the head, sent home and ends up deceased because someone either couldn't be bothered or is not well-trained enough to spot a serious problem. We have one regional hospital here with that problem....3 deaths occurred which should not have happened. That being said...without modern medicine I would not be alive today...Placenta praevia with my first son and later Systemic Lupus and a dicky ticker. My thanks and admiration to all medical practicioners, scientists and researchers.

These days you just need a smart phone to keep track of your heart and other medical probs - saw it on YouTube.

This makes my blood boil!! Who do those doctor's think they are....GOD???? And how many weak women caved??? What did they have to say when she was born without the problem???

I also use the "touch method" for testing temperature. Then, if the person feels warm, the thermometer comes out to verify. I used this for my kids, husband, students, and now, my mom.
Medical help is only as good as the person diagnosing/treating. All the fancy machines in the world can't make up for a lousy diagnostician. IMHO (And I should know...my FIL was a GP)

I had a friend who said there is a reason it is called a medical practice. "Practice" being the operative word.

I feel with my cheek to the forehead......can tell everytime if they have a high temp.
D in TX