Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

How political agendas erode the doctor-patient relationship

Maggie Kozel, MD
Policy
March 19, 2012
563 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Your doctor’s exam room is getting overcrowded. Modern US health care means that, like it or not, you and your physician are sharing that once private space with an insurance executive constantly hissing in your doctor’s ears to move it along. You are also sharing it with pharmaceutical marketers,  lobbyists from the food industry … special interest groups of every stripe.

Now move over and make room for one more interested party:  your employer.

Ever since the HHS ruling last month that employers cannot exclude contraception from the preventive services that their insurance plan covers, the country has worked itself up into a fever of self-righteous indignation, framing the controversy around women’s rights, religious freedom, and political posturing.   As a doctor, I see it see it through a different lens.   I see the primary symptom of our dysfunctional health care system as being the unrelenting erosion of the doctor–patient relationship – a relationship that is central to health and healing.  And I see this latest distraction from meaningful health care reform  – an employer’s wish to define what kinds of access to health care are appropriate for his employees  – as just one more assault on that very intimate and healing dynamic.  Now, in addition to trying to shut out the noise from all the parties that want to make a profit from your visit, doctors  now have to consider, “so what does your employer think of all this?”

How many more parties are we willing to invite into the therapeutic conversations we have with our health care professionals?  If a CEO of a major company is an anti-vaccine activist can she refuse to let her company’s health plan cover routine immunizations for children, as a matter of conscience?   Could an animal rights organization like PETA refuse to allow coverage of chemotherapy regimens that relied on animal research, based on that group’s deeply held convictions? Recently the governor of Virginia called for legislation that would require women to have vaginal ultrasounds before undergoing an abortion.  It used to be that you had to go to medical school before ordering an invasive medical test; now apparently all you need is political ambition and a microphone. In our current divisive political climate, the conversation about our health care has become less and less about what is happening between doctor and patient, and more about what individuals or groups want for themselves – and don’t want for the rest of us.

We will know that our health care system is functioning well when the one overriding question that drowns out all the other noise in any doctor-patient encounter is this: What is best for my patient?  We can measure our health care system – and our society as a whole – by how hard we make it for health professionals to ask and answer that fundamental question, whether it be due to punitive financial pressure, marketing strategies or political agendas.  Cost effective healthcare can only result from sound health policy.  The role of political leaders is to recognize and implement sound policy, not define it.  Meaningful health care reform will require that all the self-serving noisemakers, from pandering politicians to profiteers, and yes, even people of deeply felt but not widely held convictions, get out and stay out of the exam room.   If we fail to do this, the doctor and the patient will end up having the smallest voices in the room.

Maggie Kozel is the author of The Color of Atmosphere: One Doctor’s Journey In and Out of Medicine and blogs at Barkingdoc’s Blog.

Submit a guest post and be heard on social media’s leading physician voice.

Prev

Why doctors aren't prescribing health apps to patients

March 19, 2012 Kevin 12
…
Next

10 strategic questions to ask yourself about the future of health care

March 19, 2012 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: OB/GYN, Patients, Public Health & Policy

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Why doctors aren't prescribing health apps to patients
Next Post >
10 strategic questions to ask yourself about the future of health care

More by Maggie Kozel, MD

  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    A disconnect between medical resources and health care delivery

    Maggie Kozel, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Why can’t the United States have a smarter health care system?

    Maggie Kozel, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Why cutting Medicaid will cost more in the long run

    Maggie Kozel, MD

More in Policy

  • Unveiling the global pandemic threat: insights into risk factors and urgent measures for prevention

    Ton La, Jr., MD, JD
  • Why the WHO’s pandemic accord is critical for global health care

    Elizabeth Métraux
  • The revolutionary Kaiser-Geisinger deal: How health care giants are reshaping the industry and empowering patients

    Robert Pearl, MD
  • Unveiling the intricate link between housing costs and health care

    Harvey Castro, MD, MBA
  • Uncovering the truth about racial health inequities in America: a book review

    John Paul Mikhaiel, MD
  • Why affirmative action is crucial for health equity and social justice in medicine

    Katrina Gipson, MD, MPH
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

      Jennifer Lycette, MD | Physician
    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • Revealing America’s expansion: the dark truth of Native American suffering and unjustified abuses

      Anonymous | Physician
    • The tragic story of Mr. G: a painful journey towards understanding suicide

      William Lynes, MD | Physician
    • The rising threat of lung cancer in Asian American female nonsmokers

      Alice S. Y. Lee, MD | Conditions
    • From Moscow Mule to the opioid crisis: Unveiling the tragic legacy and urgent solutions

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Meds
  • Past 6 Months

    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • An inspiring tribute to an exceptional radiologist who made a lasting impact

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Proactive risk management: a game-changer in preventing physician burnout

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Physician employment contracts: the key to fighting burnout and improving working conditions [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • A tense family drama unfolds as a young daughter pursues unconventional career path

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Physician
    • Decoding the brain’s decision-making: insights for medical professions and strategies for success

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Unmasking the truth: the shocking reality of the opioid epidemic and who’s really to blame

      Jay K. Joshi, MD | Physician
    • Discover your true north: Navigating life’s confusions and embracing your path to success

      Tyler Jorgensen, MD | Physician
    • A revolution in patient empowerment: Working together to save our medical system [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 13 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Insomnia Symptoms Tied to Stroke a Decade Later
  • Studies Question Role of CDK4/6 Inhibitors in First-Line Advanced Breast Cancer
  • Full-On Reversal of Cardiac Amyloidosis Possible With Antibodies
  • Spell Check-Up: Do You Have the Skills to Pass This Spelling Test?
  • For Some, Sex Is Better Sleep Aid Than Pill, Small Survey Finds

Meeting Coverage

  • Studies Question Role of CDK4/6 Inhibitors in First-Line Advanced Breast Cancer
  • For Some, Sex Is Better Sleep Aid Than Pill, Small Survey Finds
  • Skipping Radiotherapy 'Seems Safe' for PMBCL Patients in Remission
  • Promising Gene Therapy for Overactive Bladder
  • Shotgun Sequencing of Small Intestine Reveals Species Tied to GI Symptom Severity
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • A physician’s typical day, as envisioned by a non-clinician health care MBA: a satire

      Jennifer Lycette, MD | Physician
    • Is chaos in health care leading us towards socialized medicine? How physician burnout is a catalyst.

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
    • Revealing America’s expansion: the dark truth of Native American suffering and unjustified abuses

      Anonymous | Physician
    • The tragic story of Mr. G: a painful journey towards understanding suicide

      William Lynes, MD | Physician
    • The rising threat of lung cancer in Asian American female nonsmokers

      Alice S. Y. Lee, MD | Conditions
    • From Moscow Mule to the opioid crisis: Unveiling the tragic legacy and urgent solutions

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Meds
  • Past 6 Months

    • “Is your surgeon really skilled? The hidden threat to public safety in medicine.

      Gene Uzawa Dorio, MD | Physician
    • Breaking the cycle of racism in health care: a call for anti-racist action

      Tomi Mitchell, MD | Policy
    • Unveiling the hidden damage: the secretive world of medical boards

      Alan Lindemann, MD | Physician
    • An inspiring tribute to an exceptional radiologist who made a lasting impact

      Kim Downey, PT | Conditions
    • The hidden factor in physician burnout: How the climate crisis is contributing to the erosion of well-being

      Elizabeth Cerceo, MD | Physician
    • Proactive risk management: a game-changer in preventing physician burnout

      Howard Smith, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Physician employment contracts: the key to fighting burnout and improving working conditions [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • A tense family drama unfolds as a young daughter pursues unconventional career path

      Osmund Agbo, MD | Physician
    • Decoding the brain’s decision-making: insights for medical professions and strategies for success

      Harvey Castro, MD, MBA | Physician
    • Unmasking the truth: the shocking reality of the opioid epidemic and who’s really to blame

      Jay K. Joshi, MD | Physician
    • Discover your true north: Navigating life’s confusions and embracing your path to success

      Tyler Jorgensen, MD | Physician
    • A revolution in patient empowerment: Working together to save our medical system [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

How political agendas erode the doctor-patient relationship
13 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...