tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post4576330556198867763..comments2023-08-18T10:14:37.977-05:00Comments on WhenEvilProspers: My answer...once againJohn Washburnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04182558340478176184noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-70643723181757315792007-11-19T19:18:00.000-06:002007-11-19T19:18:00.000-06:00Lawrence R. Brownlee, MD - Tustin, Orange County, ...Lawrence R. Brownlee, MD - Tustin, Orange County, California - started a concierge medical practice at the request of some of his patients. all is well after three years.<BR/><BR/>http://www.mdelite.comMd Elitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12486690966325684002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-22457875561431372202007-11-08T10:46:00.000-06:002007-11-08T10:46:00.000-06:00Dr.Thanks for reprinting the post. I find myself ...Dr.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for reprinting the post. I find myself in complete agreement w/ you except on two points.<BR/><BR/>The first is the myth that trial lawyers need to reigned in. The excesses of our our profession are largely exaggerated but if you wish to discover the real culprit, you have already identified it: the insurance industry.<BR/><BR/>Physicians who abondoned fields of practice or practcing in certain states do so b/c of the cost of malpractice premiums. The insurance indusrty, not trial attorneys, set those premiums. The only thing insurance companies care about is making money. Trust me on this one. I have done defense work. I have been staff counsel for a major insurance company.<BR/><BR/>I will not cite chapter and verse regarding how difficult and expensive it is to bring a successful medical malpractice case in the state of my residence, Colorado. Let me just say that as an attorney, if you take on one of these cases, be prepared to spend $100K of your own money to do so and be prepared to try the case. As a rule, these cases do not settle in Colorado. First you need to obtain the opinion of a physician who practices in the same discipline as the one against whom you are bringing the claim that the claim does not lack sunstantial justification. Also, there are damage caps.<BR/><BR/>Instead, let us look to Texas which several years ago passed sweeping legislation governing medical malpractice cases. The not-so-funny result: medical malpractice premiums have not been lowered.<BR/><BR/>For the last quarter century the insurance industry has waged a largely successful propaganda war to deny justice to people who are injured as a result of the acts or omissions of other individuals or corporations.<BR/><BR/>If you wish to see obscene compensation for executives, look to that of insurance executives only you won't be able to find it for Sate Farm and a few other companies which are privately held.<BR/><BR/>The second point w/ which I disagree is your perception between corporate taxation and the abilty of corporations to offer healthcare. Outsourcing and the shift of jobs overseas has little to do w/ corporate taxation although some corporations have relocated to places like Dubai for tax purposes. Outsourcing and the shift of jobs overseas is related primarily to labor costs.<BR/><BR/>The unwillingness or inability of companies to offer healthcare is related to the expense of offering health insurance.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again. Regards.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-26825644259044341592007-11-07T14:29:00.000-06:002007-11-07T14:29:00.000-06:00BB, yes there are limits to self care. Thank you ...BB, yes there are limits to self care. Thank you for sharing your story. And of course our current system is not flawless. There is room for improvement, but government takeover is the absolute wrong way to go. There is no example of effective government driven health care elsewhere on this planet, and since when has the government EVER been able to save costs and improve quality over the private sector in anything.<BR/><BR/>If we devolve into socialized medicine, costs will skyrocket. You think health care is expensive now? Just wait until it's free! Not only that, but access will plummet. That nasty case of pneumonia you had...you won't have to worry about seeing your doctor for it because there won't be an appointment available for you. Ever see the line at the post office? Multiply that on a grander scale and put it in your doctor's office. That's what will become of government funded health care.<BR/><BR/>Solving this problem requires reform of the current system, not a complete overhaul. We STILL have the best health care in the world. And we are one of the few countries that keeps its health care privatized. Certainly there is a connection there. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for your comment.John Washburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04182558340478176184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21077080.post-5826259816303662402007-11-06T17:24:00.000-06:002007-11-06T17:24:00.000-06:00Your ideas are reasonable and workable. I assume ...Your ideas are reasonable and workable. I assume you are basing them on work as a physician? As far as self-help, many of us (males, of course) avoid the Dr.<BR/>Mine calls me once a year and makes an appointment! My experience in self-diagnosis went awry back some 25 years ago: a persistant fever, ache and kidney<BR/>pain finally convinced me to see<BR/>my physician. I convinced him that I had a kidney infection and the requisite drugs were prescribed. After a month of worsening symptoms (I even missed a half day of work!) I returned..and was immedicately hospitalized with pneumonia. So,<BR/>"be your own doctor" has it's limits. Apparently we have socialized medicine here already, because I stood in line for an hour for a flu shot last week.<BR/>IMO, the current problem with healthcare is cost: we note a number of large companies seeking<BR/>government intervention. Since my part D prescription rose 71% this year, I'm with a majority that seek<BR/>change..I can put up with private<BR/>health, but am worried about my<BR/>children and grandchildren. The<BR/>system is bloated and out of control.BB-Idahohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01168862935045755393noreply@blogger.com