My mother-in-law, a widow of a doctor, recently died. The way she exited was a nightmare. This was because her health strategy produced a lousy result.

Shortly before passing away, she had a colostomy to fix an intestinal blockage, the result of a decades-long struggle with diverticulitis. Poor teeth and gums, kidney failure and liver problems were also in the mix.

Not surprisingly she was riding a doctor-directed merry-go-round of prescription drugs and their side effects.

My mother-in-law went out in typical American fashion–a slow system-by-system breakdown accompanied by loss of mobility.

She learned three hard, painful lessons during her exit:

1) You can’t find health in a doctors office.

2) Pharmaceuticals do not restore your health.

3) Our health care system manages disease, but does not improve your health.

My father, a retired dentist who can barely get around using a walker, is also following the typical American health strategy.

In spite of eating all the "right foods, he is dealing with the effects of prostate disease, osteoporosis, arthritis, stroke, Parkinson’s, and has recently been fitted with a pacemaker.