Text 2, 76 rader
Skriven 2009-09-11 04:51:28 av Bob Ackley (1:300/3)
     Kommentar till en text av Robert Bashe (2:2448/44)
Ärende: (2/2) (1/2) Universal health insurance
==============================================
 RB>>> Another argument for universal health care. It's amazing to me that
 RB>>> people can simply ignore that.

 BA>> How does universal care - or a single payer - increase the numbers of
 BA>> physicians available?

 RB> It prevents age discrimination - or any kind of discrimination - in
 RB> providing medical care.

It really doesn't matter in this case, if the physician isn't there s/he isn't
seeing
*any* patients.

 RB>>>>> The story does, however, point out the shortcomings of the system
 RB>>>>> (such that it is) very nicely and gives the lie to people who
 RB>>>>> rant so emotionally against universal health insurance (which
 RB>>>>> would be worth the name and would be - must be - accepted by all
 RB>>>>> medical practicioners).

 BA>>>> So practitioners find another line of work.

 RB>>> Like repairing cars. That would be better for people who concentrate
 RB>>> on money instead of the patient. But naturally wouldn't make them
 RB>>> millions in a few years - life's rough.

 BA>> What do you propose to do when and if the physician shortage becomes
 BA>> critical?

 RB> It simply _won't_, Bob. There are enough people who believe in helping
 RB> and believe in their Hippocratic oath, and are willing to work for a
 RB> reasonable salary rather than trying to get rich on their patients.

In the aforementioned Forbes article one of your German physicians noted that
she is paid less than the local plumber.

Yes, there are a few people such as you describe, but not enough of them to
run an entire health system - particularly if they can't make any money at it.

 RB> Germany, with a universal health care system, has a much higher ratio
 RB> of physicians to population than the States. And don't think German
 RB> doctors don't want to earn enough to support themselves and their
 RB> families, too.

 BA>> What happens when hospitals close whole departments (several
 BA>> hospitals have already closed their emergency departments) or simply
 BA>> close their doors completely (that's happened too)?

 RB> Without a change in the system, you'll never know. We have hospital
 RB> closures here, too - but they generally aren't major facilities, and
 RB> the closure certainly doesn't present any great hardship, as there
 RB> are plenty left.

 RB>>> On the other hand, real doctors who believe in their Hippocratic
 RB>>> oath will continue to devote their efforts to the sick and injured
 RB>>> - and presumably be glad to get rid of the moneygrubbers who have
 RB>>> sullied their reputation.

 BA>>>> What do you do when you can't *find* a physician?

 RB> The question just doesn't arise, Bob, as I already mentioned. Maybe it
 RB> does in the States with the present system, but it certainly doesn't
 RB> in Germany with its universal medical care, not in any of the other
 RB> EU countries with a similar health care system.

Actually, of Obama gets his wish I forsee a number of brand new hospitals
being built, equipped with state of the art equipment and staffed with the
best physicians and medical professionals available.  In Mexico along the
US border, in the Bahamas and Bermuda, perhaps even in Canada and in
ships operating outside US claimed waters.  All treatments being cash only,
no checks or credit cards, and no insurance accepted.

BTW I did run across a specialist in Omaha who does not deal with insurors
or credit cards.  He expects payment by cash or check at the time of service.

--- FleetStreet 1.19+
 * Origin: Bob's Boneyard, Emerson, Iowa (1:300/3)