Lorenzo's Oil LO424

Tom Burke (toburke@cts.com)
Wed, 15 Mar 95 18:08 PST

Somedays back an article was posted here suggesting that the movie
Lorenzo's oil was a good example of system thinking. While I agree, I am
not sure we would agree on the same thing. Being recommended, I rented
the video. Here was a mother challenging the system way of doing things.
She becomes a hero. I suggest that this is not the model of a good system
but only of the 5% group. The system of validating evidence via the
scientific method is, I think, presented strongly in this case. This well
intentioned family strove against the system, and this time won. I don't
know how many of you out there were around in the fifties and remember the
miracle drug thalidomide (I think that's the spelling). The result of a
poor system resulted in misery untold. I suggest that these heros are
great examples of bucking the system and winning. Remember, under a
normal distribution, they had a 95% chance of being wrong. Fighting for
their own child is one thing, passing on untested data to others is an
equisterian of another hue. The system I saw suggested just the opposite
of what I think the film wanted us to feel. I suggest systems can be
challenged but systems should not be changed on events within the 5%
group. Comments?

Tom Burke
Ramona, California
toburke@cts.com