This is what depresses me; people start thinking it's the drugs that make them better (of course prescribed by doctors ... who of course make money with the most-expensive drugs they can logically find 'prescribable'). Our old friend Napoleon Hill tells us that people's failure to believe in their own immune-system's is one of the largest gold-mines in the world! (i.e. 'the fear of being sick' is the prime instegator of sickness) Disagree? Join Here, Be Heard!

"It's the goal of the high-ups, the big corporations who control where medicine goes and who are driven by profit." I would say this statement gives the impression that this is a process already in the making "This is not social control, just a convenience" So one of the criteria for something to be defined as social control is punishment? You're twisting the facts to your convenience. There is a strong social pressure on women to take birth control. It is also a strong social pressure on overweight people to strive for a healthy weight. It's just more convenient to avoid being overweight and it's convenient for women to take birth control pills , there is still an element of social control and drug companies still make billions on this. Aren't you afraid that the next big thing would be even more drastic and controlling than birth control? No? Me neither when it comes to your predictions about medicine and social control. "Just consider the difference in lifestyle and choices available to a thin person compared to someone bigger" Exactly, that's why it is more convenient to be a healthy weight just like it's more convenient for women to take birth control pills, however, teen pregnancy involves a certain degree of social stigma at least where I come from "Consider the options available to people who live in poverty" I agree, their choices are more limited, but enforcing the view that these people are not in control of their lives is not going to help them, hence the self-fulfilling prophecy

"An on profit-driven corporations: it's pretty clear to me that - for the most part - they don't really care about other normal people. They pollute the environment, concentrate wealth in the hands of the few, etc. The only social conscience they have is an act to attract new customers. This is not evil, but how does it benefit humanity?" One question: are you a customer? do you buy stuff? drive a car? etc..What you are basically saying here is that the consumer has no responsibility whatsoever. That we are merely products of an environment produced by "the others". I don't agree! I also don't agree with your reference to max weber, "what you are describing is close to a self-fulfilling prophecy and only one- dimensional, let me remind you that it is a theory, a tool to describe reality, there was also different times and circumstances to direct the choices of max weber himself when he came up with this theory, however , his words are his own aren't they? Let me give you another theory not to be taken literally. The theory concerning Locus of control. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locus_of_control I stand by my case, an individual's choice is only limited by social forces if that individual let this happen, there are also multiple other forces directing the choices of an individual. "it is hard to demonstrate something that has not yet happened. It is unfortunate that we are only blessed with hind-sight" Well, in your last comment you painted a picture as though it was already in the process of happening. And abuse of control is in fact happening,look here http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/10/2269770.htm but this is not the corporations this is individuals, there are organs in place to prevent corruption and unethical behaviour from corporations. "And your example: just look at the whole diet/cosmetic industry. These people make billions because social forces compel people to look good/be thin." I don't see how this can be easily transferred to medicine? social forces compel people to live healthy too, you can draw parallells to just about anything here social forces compels people to choose green energy and these comapanies are making billions. The only valid parallell i can think of that would make you right with regards to social control,medicine and drug companies is this: social forces compels women to use birth control pills, these companies are making billions.Social control as you call it has gone a bit far here, but women still have a choice and many choose not to take birth control pills. I agree with you that circumstances can be limiting but this does not rule out free will and individual choices.

Why should I believe this, can you back up those claims or give me a specific example of one of these corporations trying to achieve social control. More importantly can you demonstrate that this is a threat posed by medicine in general or is it just a few "evil" profit driven corporations? Everything that is in some way driven by profit (which is pretty much everything) is not necessarily trying to achieve social control to the extent of which it will compromise your personal freedom. on the other hand any organization that's fighting for any cause is trying to achieve social influence or at least some level of control. That goes for anything from corporations to political movements. The fact that they are doing this does not make them evil. As mentioned before no corporation can force upon you anything you don't want. You are in control of you. However, you are trying to influence me here, is that part of your hidden agenda to achieve social control? (just teasing)

"Medicine has not reached this stage yet. It is not yet social control. But, it has the potential to become more like pop culture and that is what we need to be weary of. " Medicine has not reach this stage and I believe it will never reach that stage because unlike pop culture it is not the goal of medicine. it's motivation is entirely different and it does not have the same appeal to the masses. Of course it is not unthinkable that certain advances in medical science have the potential to be abused but medical science is organized in a way that takes measures to avoid this from happening. Medical community is very aware of the existing exploits and ethical issues and try to avoid them while pop culture intentionally go after them If medicine does indeed become more like pop culture as you say, this would not be intentional of medical science. The responsbility for this would lie with the very people that wrongfully embrace it as pop culture and not with medical science in and on itself