3 ms·

I'd argue it's actually MUCH worse than simply killing people (which is already pretty staggeringly bad). The constant push to privatize and let market forces

I'd argue it's actually MUCH worse than simply killing people (which is already pretty staggeringly bad). The constant push to privatize and let market forces drive medical interactions is CRUSHING trust in the system. Let's take an example patient, Sally. Sally goes to see her doctor, she's got some minor knee pain, but nothing serious. As a result of this profit motivated system, her doctor is likely to try to prescribe her expensive pain killers. She doesn't really think she needs them, but she gets the prescription anyways since she trusted her doctor. Now Sally is actually lucky - no addiction issues, no real problems with the meds. She just decides to stop paying for them after a while since she didn't really think she needed them. AND SHE WAS RIGHT. Now she's got a nagging thought in the back of her head - Why did my doctor ask me to buy this thing? I didn't need it. Next time Sally hits the doctors office she's got her kids in tow and the doctor recommends several vaccines. Not super expensive, but not cheap. Normally she'd just trust the doc and say sure. But last time she was burned and paid for something she didn't need. So this time she decides to do some googling and hits a whole host of anti-vax propaganda. Things that say kids don't need them, they're expensive and risky. So she opts out. ---- We see this happen everywhere in medicine right now. Things like: - The dentist that "finds" a cavity at the last minute to fill even though everything has been fine, and the patient doesn't normally have cavities. - The physician that runs a whole slew of expensive tests for a simple issue - The dermatologist who wants to do a biopsy on the mole that's been fine for years and doesn't look any different. Each interaction like this - Where the patient feels more like a walking wallet than a person - they erode trust. Rightfully so, in my opinion. The end result is whole swathes of disillusioned people who no longer trust the medical system. The consequences become staggering for society as a whole when this trust is gone. --- I don't think it's any accident AT ALL that the most common group to believe the anti-vax rhetoric is the upper middle class. They're the patients most likely to have disposable income that can be targeted with schemes like this. And while those people are horribly wrong, their gut instinct is SPOT ON. They're being targeted financially and it's bullshit.

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m_fayer 7y ago
My partner is a new doctor in an underserved lower class area. The hospital is barely getting by from lack of resources, and on top of all that, the patients are often mistrustful and hostile. You work frantic 12 hour days for a lower middle class salary, and have patients accusing you of profiteering. Of course my partner understand how her patients got that way and doesn't blame them. Exactly as you said. It's terrible.
avgDev 7y ago
The problem is the US health care system. In a civilized nation, doctor orders a medical test, you get the medical test and you are not charged $1000+ for it. Prices are regulated. US health care system is very predatory. Even if the doctor had the right intentions and you go to scammy place for tests the experience will be negative.Then, if you can't make the payment and are ashamed to call and negotiate the bill it will go to collections. I honestly feel the US healthcare system is a complete joke. I am losing respect for doctors because they are a part of it. This is a bit off topic, but I recently changed my health plan. I was on a state plan before. I asked the insurance rep what happens when I go to the ER on a state plan in another state. She said, "well if its in an emergency you are fine, but if its not then you will be responsible for 60%" or something crazy. How the hell can I decide what is an emergency? I am not a medical professional. It is complete bullshit to put that on a individual but this is what they want. The insurance company will blame you and say it was not emergency to save money.
- kangaroozach 7y ago
  Prices are regulated is the problem! Prices should be ‘regulated’ by REAL price transparency and consumer choice! The prices will self regulate based on the market. AND insurance can be privately bought to protect against the chance that you get stuck with something expensive. Just like insurance against your house burning, car crashing, or dealer getting a blackjack. The idea that regulating the price through government will lead to more efficient system with lower costs and better outcomes is a fallacy. Even NASA is being outdone by private space exploration. Government regulation simply can not compete with a truly free market where consumers have access to information, prices, and can make decisions for themselves. CHOICE is what is required to optimize the solution. Regulation is mostly a fallacy. Regulation is required for certain protections, but not a reliable means to get the system to deliver the optimal outcomes and the lowest costs.
  - homonculus1 7y ago
    I would only add the caveat that under a free market system single-payer may still be more appropriate for emergency care, since you can't make a consumer choice in the middle of having a stroke. The fallacy that healthcare is a monolithic field which can necessarily be equally served across the board by any particular regime is catastrophic to the debate. There are completely different requirements, limitations, time scales, etc. between an ER, a family practice, a specialist pediatric cancer ward, a cosmetic surgery clinic, etc.
deleted 7y ago
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deleted 7y ago

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m_fayer 7y ago

My partner is a new doctor in an underserved lower class area. The hospital is barely getting by from lack of resources, and on top of all that, the patients are often mistrustful and hostile. You work frantic 12 hour days for a lower middle class salary, and have patients accusing you of profiteering. Of course my partner understand how her patients got that way and doesn't blame them. Exactly as you said. It's terrible.

avgDev 7y ago

The problem is the US health care system. In a civilized nation, doctor orders a medical test, you get the medical test and you are not charged $1000+ for it. Prices are regulated. US health care system is very predatory. Even if the doctor had the right intentions and you go to scammy place for tests the experience will be negative.Then, if you can't make the payment and are ashamed to call and negotiate the bill it will go to collections. I honestly feel the US healthcare system is a complete joke. I am losing respect for doctors because they are a part of it. This is a bit off topic, but I recently changed my health plan. I was on a state plan before. I asked the insurance rep what happens when I go to the ER on a state plan in another state. She said, "well if its in an emergency you are fine, but if its not then you will be responsible for 60%" or something crazy. How the hell can I decide what is an emergency? I am not a medical professional. It is complete bullshit to put that on a individual but this is what they want. The insurance company will blame you and say it was not emergency to save money.

kangaroozach 7y ago
Prices are regulated is the problem! Prices should be ‘regulated’ by REAL price transparency and consumer choice! The prices will self regulate based on the market. AND insurance can be privately bought to protect against the chance that you get stuck with something expensive. Just like insurance against your house burning, car crashing, or dealer getting a blackjack. The idea that regulating the price through government will lead to more efficient system with lower costs and better outcomes is a fallacy. Even NASA is being outdone by private space exploration. Government regulation simply can not compete with a truly free market where consumers have access to information, prices, and can make decisions for themselves. CHOICE is what is required to optimize the solution. Regulation is mostly a fallacy. Regulation is required for certain protections, but not a reliable means to get the system to deliver the optimal outcomes and the lowest costs.
- homonculus1 7y ago
  I would only add the caveat that under a free market system single-payer may still be more appropriate for emergency care, since you can't make a consumer choice in the middle of having a stroke. The fallacy that healthcare is a monolithic field which can necessarily be equally served across the board by any particular regime is catastrophic to the debate. There are completely different requirements, limitations, time scales, etc. between an ER, a family practice, a specialist pediatric cancer ward, a cosmetic surgery clinic, etc.

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