One part of the discussion is that indeed, some need medication to function(mental and physical ailments). The other part is that those making a living from patients are sometimes known to apply sleasy tacics to get as much profit out of patients as possible, eg:

Pharma companies trying to extend their patents on meds with unorthodox measures; pharma companies marketing meds they used to treat one illness for a completely different illness to maximize profits once the patent expired. Pharma companies sponsoring doctors to market their meds to not just adults, but recently also children and even pets. Pharma companies falsifying testing results on new drugs and collaborating with insurances and medical alliances to shift the responsibility for risks to patients. Insurances and pharma companies driving doctors out of business that uccessfully treat illnesses without a toxic amount of pharmaceuticals.

Think one should keep in mind that the health industry is a business and as much as you may adore your doctor or t, it is always wise to think independently and keep things in perspective. Ads are usually misleading, some doctors can apply manipulative tactics to make you take the drug he gets from his partner pharma company (happened to me). As often, the solution is to get educated.

There is a lot going on between these billion dollar industriesthat we dont know, but we should neverforget that they want to make money, and that is made with chronically ill people. Lots of information can be accessed online though. I personally would welcome stricter checks on doctors, medical research institutions etc and more legal responsibility for insurance and pharma companies.. but a lot would need to change to get there.

There is not nearly enough money in researhing certain illnesses but lots of money is dedicated to beinging new meds on the market and inventing new problems (female viagra anyone?) If you have one of these little researched illneses, or one whose treatment has been made a political debate; or one like cancer where youd think we had the key to solving it by now- you will inevitably realize the effect of the greedy decisions made by this industry and understand how little the patient actually matters.