There has been quite a bit of protests and name calling on both sides of the isle as lawmakers are debating HR3200 Health Care Reform. I think the problems with health care cannot be fixed by an act of Congress, at least not by the methods proposed in HR3200.
Starting with alternative medicine, it would best serve the American people to allow homeopathic and naturopathic remedies and treatments to be administered. Herbal supplements have been used for thousands of years, and would still be used today if not for the proliferation of pharmaceuticals. Being raised in a family with doctors I feel qualified to say that the AMA is the biggest reason that health care costs have steadily risen and are getting out of control. The AMA under the tutelage of Morris Fishbein suppressed treatments and remedies that were economical and most relevant, effective, instead backing pharmaceutical companies that have paid huge royalties to medical association over the years. The FDA is bamboozled by the hype of new drugs daily, drugs that have not been adequately tested in clinical trials to determine their effectiveness and most importantly, their safety.
I read yesterday about the Canadian healthcare system and its problems, and also about what is going on in Great Britain with their socialized medicine program. I have friends that liive in Canada and abroad. While they are reciving the health care they need to stay alive, they have little if any choice in their own health care decisions. As one told me, "The God/doctors are the final word." Sure you may request a second opinion, but it is rare that it will differ from the first.
They are reaching out to the private sector for help as they are unable to meet the demands of the patients and in some cases are looking to postpone or cancel elective surgeries and even cancer surgery when the cost cannot be justified based on life expectancy (surviving the procedure and recovery) and their ability to treat younger and healthier patients with less expensive treatments. Will that happen here if tehe HR3200 bill goes into law?
Can we afford to chance it?