DEEPAK CHOPRA, AUTHOR, "THE BOOK OF SECRETS": It's good to see you,
Campbell.
BROWN: You are calling, I know, for a public awareness campaign to try
to sell people on the need for health care reform in this country.
But, you know, President Obama's been out there talking about this
every day for weeks now. You don't think he's getting the job done?
CHOPRA: I think President Obama is doing a great job.
But there are special interest groups who are taking the attention
away from the facts. The facts are that we spend $2.4 trillion, more
than any other country in the world, on health care. We rank 32 in
health performance. We rank 72 in health levels.
We spend $6 billion on advertising, $1.4 million a day on lobbyists in
Washington trying to influence people in government, who we have
elected, to work against us. Sarah Palin and Senator Grassley, when
they talk about death panels, they are fear-mongering. I think people
should be aware that most of the interventions at the end of life do
not prolong life. They prolong suffering.
They wreak unlimited, untold suffering and carnage on our people,
while benefiting special interest groups to the tune of billions of
dollars. There's something drastically wrong with our health care
system, and unless we become aware that 90 percent of the health care
dollars that are spent are on preventive illnesses.
BROWN: So, explain this to me, because I want to get into the
specifics here. You recently wrote that we need a health care system
that reduces fear, as well as cost. What do you mean by that?
CHOPRA: Well, you know, our health care industry is the only industry
that creates a demand when there is no need to create a demand.
You know, capitalism is built on a supply-demand theory, but we
doctors have the privilege of generating our own demand by writing a
prescription or writing a procedure. The most devastating and
expensive health care technology is a physician's pen and a
prescription pad.
You know, 80 percent of the drugs we use are of optional or marginal
benefit. We spend $700 billion a year on unnecessary tests. The next
time you go to a doctor for a routine examination, there's a 43
percent chance that you will be prescribed an unnecessary diagnostic
procedure or a test.
You know that we spend 2.5 million unnecessary surgeries a year,
hysterectomies, spinal fusions, knee operations, CABG, angioplasty,
which do nothing to help the patient. So, unless we are honest enough
to look at our own self and how we're generating this demand -- we
could be saving $1 trillion a year.
BROWN: how much is also the individual's responsibility, taking
responsibility for your own wellness? I know you have talked about
this as well.
CHOPRA: Well, it's very important, Campbell, but the individual has to
be aware. We have to create a public awareness campaign, which is the
only missing part.
If people would realize that they could prevent 80 to 90 percent of
chronic illness just by doing three things, exercise, diet, and stress
management, and you would regulate, help regulate the genes that are
responsible for cancer, for heart disease, for inflammation.
We know that the human body's not a structure. It's a process. And if
you understand the process, we can influence the outcome of illness
and prevent much of this illness at no cost whatsoever, just by being
more aware.
BROWN: Individual responsibility.
Deepak Chopra making his case tonight, thank you so much for your
time. Appreciate it.
CHOPRA: Thank you. Thank you.
