4 ms·

Data point: I live in the USA, and I've got Crohn's disease. I take medicine for the chronic condition, which keeps it in remission 99%+ of the time. But when i

Data point: I live in the USA, and I've got Crohn's disease. I take medicine for the chronic condition, which keeps it in remission 99%+ of the time. But when it flares up, I need to see a doctor pretty quick -- not just because it hurts, but also because the pain is an indication of bad things happening to my intestines. The thing is, I can't get an appointment to my GI doctor right now, or even tomorrow. So I can't get a prescription for the heavy duty drugs necessary to bring it under control, not without a significant wait while I'm in pain and my ileum is turning into scar tissue. My solution is that when I vacation in Mexico, I buy and bring back a personal supply of prednisone. The downside of this is that prednisone is nasty stuff that I don't want to take, it's not as effective as the real treatments, and it's got much worse side effects. But I don't have a way to get the real stuff. So I'm pointing the finger, at least in part, at the regulations here in the USA. By artificially controlling the number of doctors, and/or constraining our access to pharmaceuticals, we're creating the situation where I am unable to get the treatment I need. This has nothing to do with economics or even insurance company policies, really. It's all to do with nanny-state government.

deleted 16y ago
[deleted]
maxharris 16y ago
So I'm pointing the finger, at least in part, at the regulations here in the USA. By artificially controlling the number of doctors, and/or constraining our access to pharmaceuticals, we're creating the situation where I am unable to get the treatment I need. This has nothing to do with economics or even insurance company policies, really. It's all to do with nanny-state government. I agree with you! Here's some data about how the supply of doctors is constrained by law: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_otfwl2zc6Qc/S8p3XotZRpI/AAAAAAAANQ4/9Bn63-6lmgs/s1600/medschool.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_otfwl2zc6Qc/S8p3XotZRpI/AAAAAAAANQ... (from http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2010/04/medical-school-grads-have-been-flat.html http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2010/04/medical-school-grads-hav...) For the last 30 years, 16,000 new doctors are let through each year, and this is very carefully regulated to keep guild members rich. There's nothing wrong with that, but the problem is that the government is used as a tool to maintain this monopoly. (Unfortunately, it's been this way since the Middle Ages.) Does it have to be this way? Not if you decide that people should be free to choose for themselves which expert they should seek medical help from, and what qualifications they require. If you own your own body (and I say you do), this is your right to decide. On top of that, new drugs cost somewhere around $1 billion to take to market. When only 300 people in the country have a rare condition, the FDA makes it so that nothing can be done for them because there is no way to recoup a billion dollars from any small group of people.
- leot 16y ago
  For the last 30 years, 16,000 new doctors are let through each year, and this is very carefully regulated to keep guild members rich. There's nothing wrong with that, but the problem is that the government is used as a tool to maintain this monopoly. What? If the AMA is restricting the number of doctors in order to make more money, then there absolutely is something "wrong with that". You're stating as a premise that it is ok for doctors to act selfishly in a way that causes (or aggravates) harm. The sworn responsibility of an MD is to get us and keep us healthy. Sure, it's also wrong if government is going against the public interest in restricting the number of doctors. But whether someone should be able to claim that they are a certified medical doctor is something I want government to regulate, at least for now. AFAIK, these regulations were put in place in response to quackery (and the like).
dalore 16y ago
Wow, I live in the UK and when I need to see the doctor I just drop by with no appointment, wait my turn (depending on number of people in the surgery can take 10-60mins. Then the doctor sees me.
- leot 16y ago
  Likewise in Canada. I think the wait time numbers are higher because people are waiting to see "their" doctor. But there are lots of drop-in private clinics, and it is always "free" to visit them.
antidaily 16y ago
Why don't you go to the ER?
btilly 16y ago
Sorry for the digression. I have a friend with Crohn's disease who read all of the research on hookworm, found a company that would ship it to Canada, went to Canada, and got himself infected. Several months later he has managed to discontinue most of the drugs and he is feeling better than he has in years. Unfortunately hookworm has been classified as a medication in the USA, and is unpatentable, so will never be approved as a treatment here. But if you're willing to travel abroad, look into it. Seriously.
- georgieporgie 16y ago
  I heard about this on This American Life. Here's the link, it's in part 3: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/404/enemy-camp-2010 http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/404/e... Here's an article on the same guy, Jasper Lawrence: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2009/07/22/are-hookworms-the-next-claritin/ http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2009/07/22/are-h...
deleted 16y ago
[deleted]
ronanz 16y ago
Research Medical Cannabis...decide for yourself at link below http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000138 http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.answers.php?question...
josto 16y ago
Im assuming you're in California? What health plan do you have? I know sometimes you can't get an appointment right away, but it really depends on the condition. I got diagnosed and needed surgery, and I don't go to the ER, but something called Urgent Care. Emergency is a nail in your head... But urgent care is for pain that needs to be dealth with.. ie - you took tylenol and advil, and it didnt work. You should research Urgent Care centers through your health plan and have their address in your phone. That way, you can get the care you need in a timely manner. I am so glad we have such good doctors, pharmacists, etc in California at least... they def are trying their best. It all just depends on the condition. If God forbid you get seriously ill, then you will get all the appointments you need. Yes there is usually some wait, but its not THAT bad.

deleted 16y ago

[deleted]

maxharris 16y ago

So I'm pointing the finger, at least in part, at the regulations here in the USA. By artificially controlling the number of doctors, and/or constraining our access to pharmaceuticals, we're creating the situation where I am unable to get the treatment I need. This has nothing to do with economics or even insurance company policies, really. It's all to do with nanny-state government. I agree with you! Here's some data about how the supply of doctors is constrained by law: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_otfwl2zc6Qc/S8p3XotZRpI/AAAAAAAANQ4/9Bn63-6lmgs/s1600/medschool.jpg http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_otfwl2zc6Qc/S8p3XotZRpI/AAAAAAAANQ... (from http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2010/04/medical-school-grads-have-been-flat.html http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2010/04/medical-school-grads-hav...) For the last 30 years, 16,000 new doctors are let through each year, and this is very carefully regulated to keep guild members rich. There's nothing wrong with that, but the problem is that the government is used as a tool to maintain this monopoly. (Unfortunately, it's been this way since the Middle Ages.) Does it have to be this way? Not if you decide that people should be free to choose for themselves which expert they should seek medical help from, and what qualifications they require. If you own your own body (and I say you do), this is your right to decide. On top of that, new drugs cost somewhere around $1 billion to take to market. When only 300 people in the country have a rare condition, the FDA makes it so that nothing can be done for them because there is no way to recoup a billion dollars from any small group of people.

leot 16y ago
For the last 30 years, 16,000 new doctors are let through each year, and this is very carefully regulated to keep guild members rich. There's nothing wrong with that, but the problem is that the government is used as a tool to maintain this monopoly. What? If the AMA is restricting the number of doctors in order to make more money, then there absolutely is something "wrong with that". You're stating as a premise that it is ok for doctors to act selfishly in a way that causes (or aggravates) harm. The sworn responsibility of an MD is to get us and keep us healthy. Sure, it's also wrong if government is going against the public interest in restricting the number of doctors. But whether someone should be able to claim that they are a certified medical doctor is something I want government to regulate, at least for now. AFAIK, these regulations were put in place in response to quackery (and the like).

dalore 16y ago

Wow, I live in the UK and when I need to see the doctor I just drop by with no appointment, wait my turn (depending on number of people in the surgery can take 10-60mins. Then the doctor sees me.

leot 16y ago
Likewise in Canada. I think the wait time numbers are higher because people are waiting to see "their" doctor. But there are lots of drop-in private clinics, and it is always "free" to visit them.

antidaily 16y ago

Why don't you go to the ER?

btilly 16y ago

Sorry for the digression. I have a friend with Crohn's disease who read all of the research on hookworm, found a company that would ship it to Canada, went to Canada, and got himself infected. Several months later he has managed to discontinue most of the drugs and he is feeling better than he has in years. Unfortunately hookworm has been classified as a medication in the USA, and is unpatentable, so will never be approved as a treatment here. But if you're willing to travel abroad, look into it. Seriously.

georgieporgie 16y ago
I heard about this on This American Life. Here's the link, it's in part 3: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/404/enemy-camp-2010 http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/404/e... Here's an article on the same guy, Jasper Lawrence: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2009/07/22/are-hookworms-the-next-claritin/ http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2009/07/22/are-h...

deleted 16y ago

[deleted]

ronanz 16y ago

Research Medical Cannabis...decide for yourself at link below http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000138 http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.answers.php?question...

josto 16y ago

Im assuming you're in California? What health plan do you have? I know sometimes you can't get an appointment right away, but it really depends on the condition. I got diagnosed and needed surgery, and I don't go to the ER, but something called Urgent Care. Emergency is a nail in your head... But urgent care is for pain that needs to be dealth with.. ie - you took tylenol and advil, and it didnt work. You should research Urgent Care centers through your health plan and have their address in your phone. That way, you can get the care you need in a timely manner. I am so glad we have such good doctors, pharmacists, etc in California at least... they def are trying their best. It all just depends on the condition. If God forbid you get seriously ill, then you will get all the appointments you need. Yes there is usually some wait, but its not THAT bad.