Saturday, August 01, 2009

The Only Thing Between You and Your Doctor Is . . . .

A high-paid lobbyist, no doubt.

One of the few real journalists left has been running a series of programs on US health care "reform" the past few weeks. I'm just catching up on my podcasts after travelling last week, and this Bill Moyers piece with Trudy Lieberman and Dr. Marcia Angell is great. "drf" and I have long doubted any substantial "reform" of the industry, and after listening to this, I'm even more convinced that it won't happen. Actually, Dr. Angell makes a strong case for the plans being considered to be scrubbed and replaced with single-payer as "the only thing that can be done" to accomplish real reform.

She's right . . . .

4 comments:

Dr. Prole said...

In the US, not only is there a highly paid lobbyist between you and your doctor, there's also a herd of insurance adjusters and assorted bean counters figuring out how to deny you care so they can get a bonus. Aren't you thankful you're in Canada now? I sure am!

West End Bob said...

Aren't you thankful you're in Canada now?

In a word: YES!

For this a a whole lot of other reasons . . . .

laura k said...

Thanks for posting this, WEB! The whole Moyers series has been so great. I posted his conversation with Wendell Potter, the former Cigna spokesperson who has come clean and is revealing all the industry's dirty tricks.

Allan and I both agree with you and drf re the chances of serious health care reform in the US.

West End Bob said...

L-girl:

Yup, I was able to see the Wendell Potter episode prior to travelling back to Florida. What I find most concerning for all my USian friends is the probable outcome of a little "tinkering" with the current system and it actually ends up making more $$$ for the insurance industry and Big Pharma. That will give both the dems, repugs and Obama a chance to claim "victory" when in fact it is anything but.

Dr. Angell in the interview is absolutely correct in her analysis. Too bad no one in a position of power will listen or act accordingly . . . .