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Michael Kirsch
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Michael commented on the article |@Martin, I don't think the optimistic budget #s will hold up regarding the Dems' HCR plans and deficit reduction. If the bill is passed with reconcilation, I suspect we will all find that the costs of HCR are much higher than predicted and the benefits will be much less than we were promised. www.MDWhistleblower.blogspot.com
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Michael commented on the article |
I don't think that the Dems will ram their plan through using reconciliation. First, I'm not sure that Pelosi can pull off the votes she needs. Second, the Dems might be too spooked to ram it through, as they are still haunted by the Massachusetts stunning victory of Scott Brown. November is just months away.
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Michael commented on the article |
With regard to your comment that tort reform won't substantially reduce health care costs, this is arguable. Many other experts have an opposing view. I personally think the estimates are low as it is not possible to calculate the costs of defensive medicine that is a result of litigation fear. In addition, tort reform is not just a financial issue, as you suggest. It would address issues of fairness to the medical profession as the current liability system is abusive to physicians. There's a reason that nearly every physician in practice is hostile to it.
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Michael commented on the article |Thanks for your response, Steve. We are talking past each other. I wanted your view on if there were specific flaws you would address in the medical liability system, not if there are physicians who are abusing the system. You are free to respond to my inquire, if you desire. There may be incompetent MDs who migrate from state to state, as you suggest. I have never encountered one in my 20 yr career. In contrast, I have personally known of scores of physicians who have been wrongly charged and prosecuted. My view is that for every rogue physician who is slipping by, there are many more of us who are abused by the unfair system.
I agree that the GOP did not act on HCR and I congratulate President Obama for taking it on, even though I do not agree with his plan. It seems that most of the country agrees with me on this point, judging by most recent polling data.
Regarding excessive medical care, this is real. I witness (and contribute to it) every single day in my medical practice, particularly in the hospital. This is not an occasional event, like a marginal physician hopping to another state. This is something that every physician witnesses regularly. Ask your own doctor.
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Michael commented on the article |
Steve, are you entirely satisfied with the current medical liability system? Do you think it functions well? Rather than lambaste the GOP, an easy target, I am interested if you believe there are excesses and deficiencies in the medical malpractice arena that should be addressed. I have detailed my objections over several posts in my blog, and have also been critical of my own profession for its excesses. www.MDWhistleblower.blogspot.com
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Michael commented on the article |
You omitted from your reasons to puruse tort reform that it would relieve the medical profession of an unfair and abusive burden. This alone justifies tort reform. For those who want more, there would be billions of dollars saved (by any estimate) and sparing patients from medical tests that they don't need. See www.MDWhistleblower.blogspot.com under Legal Quality.
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Michael commented on the article |Laurence,
We agree.
MK
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Michael commented on the article |
Laurence, I read your thoughtful post. Quite utopian! With regard to your comment, "physicians educated and supported economically (allowed to have families at an age that approaches their contemporaries, and to work hours that permit enjoyment of other aspects of life) would owe an appropriate number of years to society. They would go, for a time, to where they were needed, to ensure that health care was available where it is not. ", might this not apply to every college student who has rec'd financial aid? I am in earnest about this. Most college kids today have their education subsidized. Should they also be required to give back to society in return? Indeed, we could make a case that every citizen should have a service obligation, but particularly those who have enjoyed discounted education.
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Michael commented on the article |
Luckily, I keep posting here, otherwise the comments would be be rather homogeneous. First to the CherokeeGirl, it is becoming more and more clear that you are hostile to capitalism, an economic system that encourages profit. To Laurence, I feel a kinship with your view of medical ethics. I too object to medical practitioners - or anyone - taking advantage of the consumer by selling products and services that are not truly needed. Excessive medical care, for profit or for other reasons, has troubled me greatly in my 20 yr career.
I suppose that one response to these ethical misadventures is to regulate actions and behavior. This would be the Rep. Pete Stark approach, whose career is a series of 'Thou shalt nots' directed to the medical profession. The more 'utopian' approach is to select and train ethical physicians whose rectitude will guide them to do what is right. I think it's preferable to have an ethical physican than one who is forced to behave ethically by external forces. Sure, this is an ideal view, but many other commenters on this post are proudly striving for the ideal. www.MDWhistleblower.blogspot.com
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Michael commented on the article |
Dear CherokeeGirl, I suspect that your reference to the 'good doctor' was to Laurence and not me. All of us desire the same outcome. Those who advocate a European model may soon approach this if Obamacare is passed and develops toward a single payer system. I am skeptical that is will deliver on its promises. I expect wild cost overruns and underperformance of the health care system. As for removing profit from medicine, why stop with my profession? Why can't we extrapolate your argument to all profession who work for profit and face potential conflicts of interest? Lawyers? Accountants? Car repairmen? Retailers? Dentists? Businessmen? Venture capitalists?
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