Re: Health Care
From: Gordon Goldman (obgyndoc@swbell.net)
Thu Jul 30 22:50:12 2009
Well put, Doug. Perhaps some on the list are not aware of the
development/history of the practice of medicine into the 'industry of
medicine' in this and other countries around the world. Acceptance of
a paid position opens the door to the 'veterinarian mentality' in
medical practice, whereby you treat the person that writes your
paycheck (closed HMO panels, governmental agencies, hospital employed
physicians) and do what they want done, as opposed to what may be the
best medical interests of the patient. Those who fail to learn from
history (the failure of governmental systems in other countries) are
destined to repeat it.
Gordon
On Jul 30, 2009, at 10:31 PM, Douglas Krell wrote:
> I simply cannot believe that ALL the members of this list, or any
> group of physicians (or practioners of any stripe) would agree to
> settle wholesale for salaried positions in the employ of the US
> government! This is just simply a ridiculous proposition!
>
> There is an enormous difference between choosing a salaried position
> among other offers and being forced by congressional decree to
> accept employment as the only alternative for medical practice in
> the US. Under circumstances such as those, physicians would
> certainly be at risk for losing their status as the finest most well
> respected physicians in the world. It is only by knowing that a
> practitioner can take advantage of better
> alternatives, that employers offer the wages and benefits that
> closely approximate those found in the private sector.
>
> Imagine if state or federal health administrators knew that no
> matter what grievance or problem, you were stuck in a certain job.
> There is little you could do to make more money or seek advancement.
> There would be downward pressure on all incomes and those income
> ceilings would be determined by some bureaucrat. If there's a
> shortfall in the budget, doctor's "scheduled cost of living
> increases" would be easy to put off another year. Typically bribery
> and under the table payoffs would become the common practice. Just
> like in Mexico, Canada, the UK, the Czeck republic, or any other
> country with socialized medicine.
>
> Of course we all got into medicine to make things better, but
> everyone becoming an employee would not make things better! Simply
> put, we are NOT the problem! The GOVERNMENT is the problem! The
> regulations that favor the HMO's, the insurance companies, and the
> lawyers are the problem. As educated professionals we have always
> demanded independance. The importance of freedom of thought and
> practice are critical to the development of ideas and new
> techniques. We are not the sheep to be led around, we are the
> shepherds. And I doubt that we wish to known as the generation who
> "gave-up" the right of independant practice.
>
> All primary care MD's and pediatricians as employees ? Doesn't that
> still leave surgical specialties intact? Well it's a slippery slope.
> Any one who wants to lead the "unencumbered" life of the employed
> physician can certainly find a job today. So why would we want to
> make that mandatory? Is there a downside to single payor, single
> employer, single anything?
> In my opinion, if it's mandatory, Yes. Its ALL downside.
>
> Douglas Krell MD
>
> Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:03:41 -0500
> From: agfolley@hotmail.com
> To: ob-gyn-l@mail.obgyn.net
> Subject: RE: Health Care
>
> I have wondered what would happen if helath care reform included a
> program whereby primary care docs (peds, FPs and Internists) were
> salaried by the government or state (ie like the military or
> police). Pay off their med school loans, give a fair salary
> increasing with years of experience and provide same malpractrice as
> military docs? In return they see any and all uninsured for their
> primary care needs and preventive services. Offices and staff also
> on govt payroll. What is the downside?
>
> > Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:34:27 -0500
> > From: terrydubose@sbcglobal.net
> > To: ob-gyn-l@mail.obgyn.net
> > Subject: Re: Health Care
> >
> > >
> > > if WE don’t do it, no one will. We are not cats, and we are not
> to be
> > > herded; we are physicians who are fighting for our professional
> lives
> > > and future. Slavery is against the law, but Nobamacare wants to
> shackle
> > > us, bind us up in a single payer prison and force us to work for
> little
> > > pay, but all the responsibility and risk that goes into the
> practice of
> > > medicine.
> >
> > I disagree. I have been a salaried sonographer for over 35 years,
> and I
> > am no slave. Do you consider your staff as slaves? Or do they do
> piece
> > work in the good old capitalistic tradition? No one wants to shackle
> > anyone; but your polemical rhetoric is good. Do you write for a
> > corporate lobby?
> >
> > I thought we all got into medicine to make things better, at least I
> > did.
> >
> > Peace, Terry
> >
>
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