*new* 24April12 Philosopher Peter Singer's 2009 essay on rationing health care.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/magazine/19healthcare-t.html?pagewanted=all
16April12
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/04/health-reform-on-the-brink-sick-in-missouri.html
I found this article very intersting. I do believe that healthcare is an extremly important and controversial issue in our society. Dr. Relman predicted many years ago that the healthcare system was headed for a disaster, and I agree with him that it is now doing so. Healthcare is becoming more and more hard for ordinary Americans to afford. It seems to be run based on the idea of profit and not in assisting those in need like the doctors in the article suggest.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Caitlin. I have not made up my mind whether health insurance should be allowed to be owned privately but there is no question that the system is broken and needs to be fixed before it implodes. Healthcare is essential in a society and the simple lack of healthcare in this country could bring this country to its knees. If people aren't healthy, they can't work, shop to stimulate the economy, or provide for their families. It is clear that there is no easy answer or we would have already found it. However, I agree with Dr. Relman that the Obamacare legislation is a step in the right direction; not because it is right for our country, but because it gets the ball rolling on what could be even better legislation in the future.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you guys as well. The Healthcare problem is so vital in our society today. The simple checkups are becoming so un-affordable that its really sad. My junior year i got the opportunity to intern for an organization that works with non self sufficient individuals and these were people who hadn't been to doctor in years simply because they couldn't afford it. Hopefully Dr. Relman is right and maybe this is the step in the right direction.
ReplyDeleteI read the article about over-diagnosis. This article was very interesting and eye opening to me. The only time we think about going to the doctor is when we have something wrong with us and we need to get it fixed. However, there are a few times when we go as preventative care in order to prevent something from happening to us. This article pointed out that the preventative care might be doing more bad then good. Many people get tested and screened for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, breast and prostate cancer, and these tests all produce a lot of anxiety when you think something might be wrong. It amazed me that one hospital can make about $5,000 for one free prostate screen since there are biopsies and follow up treatment. The article mainly points out that doctors do a lot of screening and focus less on the chronically ill. Instead they should be doing the opposite- letting the healthy be, and caring for the ill.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above commenters. There are some fundamental flaws with our current health care system, and these articles show this. I don't think that the Affordable Care Act will be a panacea for health care in the US, but I do think it will be an improvement on current legislation.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree with everyone. Health Care in our country is turning out to be a big problem. We need to take more care in our society about preventative measures, although they may be a little costly, to prevent further complications and diseases that could be much more expensive to treat. The Health care of this country needs to be fixed so that everyone can afford preventative measures.
ReplyDeleteHealthcare is a serious issue these days because it has turned into basically a big business where it only matters if you can afford where it should be for people who need it. The fact that there is a chance that someone could walk in a hospital with a serious injury could potentially be turned away because they don't have the proper insurance.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone also, Health care is very important and I think it is sad that not everyone is getting proper healthcare because it is too expensive. But the fact is that people come to the United States for treatment, without waits and for our advanced medical technology. I think that we should be careful of going to a total universal healthcare system. Looking at other countries healthcare systems, we could peice together a healthcare system that works and helps everyone.
ReplyDeleteHealth care system is becoming more business based than "care". There are many many people who don't seek care because of the financial burden; insurance is too expensive and they make "just enough" money not to qualify for medicaid. I think healthcare should be made affordable to everyone. Yes, medical treatments are costly but I think it's only because people wait so long to seek treatment and once they do it's so far advanced they use up more resources. I believe people would seek care more often than never if healthcare coverage was easily attainable.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with everyone. The healthcare system is very important and it shouldn't be treated as a large business that only people that have enough money can use it. I think that there needs to be some type of plan that allows for everyone to have insurance when it's needed. Although it is costly, I think that everyone should have an opportunity to get treatment for the same illness even if they may not be able to afford the insurance from a private company.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the above statements. Everyone has the undeniable right to healthcare. This right is not currently being met for people around the world but particularly in our own country, which is very concerning. I think that our system certainly does need to be fixed to extend healthcare to ALL members of society, even those caught in the gap between being able to afford healthcare and being given Medicaid.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Katie. It is extremely hard for those caught in the gap. Someone I personally know cannot afford diabetes medication for her son, without it he could die. So she is forced to not have a job so that the government can pay for his medication. I think this is ridiculous because without her having a job (she is a single mother) she is also forced to use food stamps. The healthcare system forces her to live off the government for food and housing. It is a ridiculous cycle that needs to be fixed.
DeleteHealth care is a big issue in this country for everyone in some way or form its not good. Its more focused on the money and not the people. But health care will never be viewed as "good" as long as people are dying their will be constant strives to achieve better and better medicine.
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