Comments on: Why major health reform is unlikely to happen next year http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/why-major-health-reform-is-unlikely-to.html medical blog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 19:59:44 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anonymous http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/why-major-health-reform-is-unlikely-to.html/comment-page-1#comment-88373 Anonymous Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:35:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/why-major-health-reform-is-unlikely-to-happen-next-year.html#comment-88373 I too do not feel the obligation to provide care to everyone. How can one be obligated to do what can't be done? I do feel an obligation to provide the best care that I can to those who are my patients--and feel free to chose who among those that solicit my services on the basis of my ability to provide a quality of care of which I can be proud.<br/><br/>If anyone else embarks on the quixotic chore of saving the world, they have no entitlement to lay claim to me or mine in the service of their quest. I too do not feel the obligation to provide care to everyone. How can one be obligated to do what can’t be done? I do feel an obligation to provide the best care that I can to those who are my patients–and feel free to chose who among those that solicit my services on the basis of my ability to provide a quality of care of which I can be proud.

If anyone else embarks on the quixotic chore of saving the world, they have no entitlement to lay claim to me or mine in the service of their quest.

]]> By: David http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2008/11/why-major-health-reform-is-unlikely-to.html/comment-page-1#comment-88368 David Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:10:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2008/11/why-major-health-reform-is-unlikely-to-happen-next-year.html#comment-88368 Boutique or retainer medicine is the best thing that can happen to medicine. Getting it out from under the insurance companies and having physicians and patients achieve relative freedom can only help the field. Indeed, some of the best physicians I know are going this route (in particular, MDVIP). The view the patient takes of this is offensive to me: "Doesn't boutique medicine go against what most doctors are pledged to do, help people while ensuring equal access for all?"<br/><br/>I never signed or signed on to any pledge for 'equal access for all'? Does the lawyer, pharmacist, store-owner, or gas-station owner also sign on to such pledges? I don't think this person has thought through the implications of the statement. If no price is too low (paid by the insurance company) then I am obliged (ethically?) to accept all prices - even zero. Working as a slave for nothing (or next to nothing) is hardly an answer to health care access!<br/><br/>The person also indicates that they cannot afford the fee. Usually the case is rather that they are unwilling to do so - since the fees often amount to the same price as a cappucino at Starbucks per day. Boutique or retainer medicine is the best thing that can happen to medicine. Getting it out from under the insurance companies and having physicians and patients achieve relative freedom can only help the field. Indeed, some of the best physicians I know are going this route (in particular, MDVIP). The view the patient takes of this is offensive to me: “Doesn’t boutique medicine go against what most doctors are pledged to do, help people while ensuring equal access for all?”

I never signed or signed on to any pledge for ‘equal access for all’? Does the lawyer, pharmacist, store-owner, or gas-station owner also sign on to such pledges? I don’t think this person has thought through the implications of the statement. If no price is too low (paid by the insurance company) then I am obliged (ethically?) to accept all prices – even zero. Working as a slave for nothing (or next to nothing) is hardly an answer to health care access!

The person also indicates that they cannot afford the fee. Usually the case is rather that they are unwilling to do so – since the fees often amount to the same price as a cappucino at Starbucks per day.

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