[Dean's World] Dave Price: Medical Opinion

[notify at powerblogs.com]

Posted by Dave Price:
Medical Opinion
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1177991201.shtml


   Dr. Paul Hsieh of [1]GeekPress on [2]socialized medicine in Colorado:

     Although I agree that there are genuine problems with the current
     system, more government interference in medicine can only make
     things worse. One basic principle we all learned in medical school
     was, "First, do no harm". This applies as well to politics as it
     does to clinical practice. Most of the problems of the current
     system have been the result of bad government policies. Adding more
     government bureaucrats to the mix will only make things worse.
     In my opinion, it is not the government's role to guarantee health
     care for all Coloradoans, any more than it is the government's job
     to guarantee all citizens a car or a job. It is morally wrong and
     economically unsustainable. Doctors and patients ought to be able
     to freely contract for medical services to their mutual benefit
     without interference from the government. It is precisely the
     attempts by the governments in Canada and Great Britain (or states
     like Tennessee) to guarantee universal "cradle-to-grave" coverage
     that has led to the runaway costs and rapidly deteriorating health
     care in those places.

   I know it's a bit old, but it's a well-argued piece and I've been
   meaning to link it for a while.

References

   1. http://www.geekpress.com/
   2. http://www.geekpress.com/2007/04/socialized-medicine-in-colorado-open.html