[DanaC]

I would add this caveat to my post though: I do have a great deal of faith in modern medicine. And I am far more inclined to accept the assessments of medical professionals than of homeopaths and internet groups.

Whether or not I trust an individual medical practitioner depends on a lot of factors, including whether or not they have engendered a level of personal trust during my interactions with them.

Alongside the above catalogue of horrors, I have also had very good experiences of doctors and hospitals.