Comments on: NPR Helps Set Stage for Health Care Rationing

By: mkirschmd

mkirschmd — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:41:38 +0000

While defensive medicine is a factor, there are many other reasons explaining why physicians practice excessive medicine. Patients and their families demand tests and erroneously believe that more medical care is better medicine. Physicians, harried in the office, may opt for a CAT scan or a ‘script, rather than have a 15 minute conversation. Sometimes, there may be financial conflicts of interest. Finally, excessive care is unfortunately the prevailing culture of medical practice. So, tort reform would help, but it wouldn’t cure the malady. http://www.MDWhistleblower.blogspot.com

By: Karen Northon

Karen Northon — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:36:54 +0000

Isn’t the problem of which you speak a result of a system overwhelmed by frivilous litigation – a result we’ve come to know as “defensive medicine”? Correct me if I’m wrong – you’re certainly in a position to do so – but the answer to that problem is comprehensive tort reform.

By: mkirschmd

mkirschmd — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:15:58 +0000

Karen, in a perfect world, you would be correct. However, physicians across the country (I am one of them) are ordering too many medical tests, requesting too many specialty consultations and are prescribing too many prescriptions. There are many reasons underpinning this culture of medical excess. I certainly don’t endorse the government, or some other agency, practicing medicine. Yet, we need some mechanism to ensure that patients don’t get so much more medical care than they truly need. These are the issues that I care deeply about and motivated me to start blogging. http://www.MDWhistleblower.blogspot.com

By: Karen Northon

Karen Northon — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 03:24:18 +0000

“Objective” is a subjective term. It’s just naive to think the findings of the USPSTF are not steared, to some degree, by a predetermined political agenda.

But, for the sake of argument, let’s make the improbable leap and say their findings are based solely and purely on “evidence-based medicine” (way to use that catch phrase). The fact remains that health care choices should not be made by anyone but the patient and the patient’s doctor. Not by the government, insurance companies, or researchers who proffer one study after another.

By: mkirschmd

mkirschmd — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:09:41 +0000

Rationing is a radioactive term. How about using evidence-based medicine instead? Folks simply can’t have every medical test on demand, regardless of cost or efficacy. Should we provide and pay for mammograms, or other tests, if objective science advises against it? See http://bit.ly/656CwP

By: Michaelle Maloney

Michaelle Maloney — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:44:52 +0000

I will call it Health Bill 101 for Lunatics. Harry Reid and Witch need to discuss this.

By: Michaelle Maloney

Michaelle Maloney — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:42:48 +0000

I have much better advice. Let the death elite lunatics take this advice; then let half of them die off. Then we will have less lunatics to fight.

By: Michaelle Maloney

Michaelle Maloney — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:40:39 +0000

NPR-National Public Disgrace: Its amazing how these lunatics and total morons think we are going to take the their so called death advice and wait til one is 50. Cancer doesn’t wait folks-I hope your not buying into this death sentence all in the name of evil control.

By: John Davidson

John Davidson — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:12:56 +0000

A precusor is those panicked lines of people awaiting a flu shot only to discover their name is not on the government list.

By: MsHyde

MsHyde — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:42:55 +0000

Wait until there’s rationing of being able to stand in line for hours too.
Population control at its best.

By: jbtrevor

jbtrevor — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:08:11 +0000

Interesting how the USPSTF uses “evidence based” research to draw its conclusions for health guidelines whereas the UN and other Political bodies use lack of evidence to impose regulatory guidelines regarding so called “climate change”.

It’s one thing to politicize and regulate behaviours based on feigned climate science; its quite another and rather tragic in my opinion if the Medical profession becomes political gurus for the Left; perhaps that’s why the opposition opinions from the NMA, AMA, ACA etc.

By: Kai

Kai — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:35:17 +0000

I agree with you there. I was recently researching an affirmative action project for my government class and listened to a two-hour debate on the subject. I found their speakers knowledgeable and intelligent. however, this seems to be somewhat of a step down.