Was listening to Dr. Nancy on Meet The Press recently: discussing health care and testing schedules, and she remarked about testing requirements ... working smarter, and with the individual in mind. This statement really hit me as I looked at my own life, and my family.
What are doctor's for, if not for their opinions? Why so many years of study? To write out expensive prescriptions? To write out orders for massively expensive 'cookie cutter' tests for the masses? It just does not receive the common sense award. This type of system does not make sense to any body, short-term or long-term, but to the people who sell the insurance necessary to cope with the cost, to those who make the machines, those who push the 'legal' drugs, and all involved in reaping the profit from their massive 'public interest' business.
Remember the old 'family' doctor? Well, I do ... came by the house, figured out fast who in the family needed treatment first, and then gave it, or made arrangements ... he prioritized, he took action based on each individual need. He often stayed for lunch ... and learned about the family diet. He talked to everybody, and looked at everybody. Payment was what you could afford. The family trusted and loved him so much they gave him what they could afford, and that was enough! Lunch and eggs and veggies from the back garden were gracefully accepted. By visiting the home, even the psychiatric issues could be addressed, and blended in to 'whole' family treatment. Even a young pregnant teen, or prospective father could get critical advice in reproductive issues, and if possible in concert with the parents involved ... personalized, and individualized ... and with a trusted professional. Ah, the 'good ole' days' ....
We have swung the pendulum too far ... and in the process lost a very great deal ... and yet ... EVERYBODY pays a great deal more, and the 'big cats' get fatter! We need to honestly look at what best serves our people, not running afraid. We need to 'change' policies into actions that work. If the fat cats have grown too 'big to fail' then maybe another line of business would be in all our interests. I hear manufacturing needs help ... bridges are collapsing. The air and water are not much fit for use, and fish, turtles, and frogs, to say nothing of canaries are on their way out. Profit in the light of morality can not be the priority, when dealing with those in need ... those who are sick, and dying.
With the profit motive for the health care industry at the pinnacle of what is most important in our nation, the people, American citizens and all other human life, will continue to suffer, and die, in pain and emotionally alone with their real physical, and mental issues, never to be really, honestly addressed. Tests continue to be run .... yes. Lot's of tests ... yep. A real diagnosis and inclusive plan for effective treatment? Not really, or rarely.
Never ending medical needs works great for profit. Long term illness is like a gold mine. Blood testing strips over a dollar a piece doesn't help the diabetic much, but sure racks up the bottom line of certain companies, because of the millions who must test frequently to keep their situation as close to normal as possible, or die horrible deaths. Diabetic supply companies, in concert with the insurance companies, are making incredible amounts of profit on the treatment of this critical disease. They don't want a cure, they have no use for healthy people, and they don't want 'alternate' treatments sticking their nose into the pot either.
No real diagnosis is usually given in our current mass 'health care' industry ... a person usually is just passed around specialist to specialist, for expensive test after expensive, even toxic test after test, without any clearing house individual, or group, considering what ... because of individual characteristics and family background, an individual person needs. No one in the loop has any real idea of family influences, cultural, and historic effects ... daily schedules ... diet ... exercise ... possibly an abusive spouse, or the addictive nature of someone in the family and that effect on the rest of the members.
Quality health care will never be received as long as profit is the number one focus. The profit motive can not co-exist with the most humane individual treatments. Do we support our families? Our friends? Our neighbors? ... or do we support the bottom line of pharmaceutical 'legal' drug, testing material, companies, and the insurance corporate CEOs? Drug profiteers, sick profiteers, long term dying profiteers?
Not for profit, and single payer, is really the only morally humane system when dealing with the sick, the disabled, and the dying ... pro-life for all life is the only civilized way. We either act humanely, as we loudly profess we are, or we remain still barbarians ... slogging it out over the spoils of battle, and living a lie.
Comments
Yea, I agree, no real contest here. Especially considering the success of the public option over the past few years in Ohio. cli.gs/z3AtaY/
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