A Visit To A Very Smart Doctor

From McGurk:

We have a family friend who is having trouble with her memory. We all suspect Alzheimer's, especially her, since this is the third generation of it in her family. Her GP (or whatever a "family doctor" is now called) made an appointment with a neurologist and I took her today. At the check-in window we found a neat stack of copies of a letter the doctors in the group wanted every patient to take. It read:

To Out Patients:

The new health care legislation passed by Congress gives the US Secretary of Health and Human Services and her appointees the power to establish care guidelines that your doctor must abide by or face penalties and fines. In making doctors answerable to the federal bureaucracy, this bill means that you and your doctor are no longer in charge of your health care decisions.

This new law, in my opinion, destroys the sanctity of the doctor-patient relationship, one of the qualities that make the American health care system the best in the world.

In addition to worsening the current doctor shortage, the law will result in major cost increases in all areas of medical care, including insurance premiums, higher taxes, a decline in the development of new medical techniques, especially the development of new drugs, and establishes government panels rationing the availability of health care. Furthermore, studies show the legislation will adversely affect the elderly, the poor and rural residents.

Despite protests by doctors and overwhelming public opposition - up to 60% of Americans opposed this bill - the current party in control of Congress pushed this bill through and is determined now to resist any "repeal and replace" efforts.

Specifically, the new health care legislation will significantly impact your access to care and the manner in which you receive your care. It is estimated that by 2015, a substantial number of neurologists who work in private practice will be forced to close their practices due to increasing economic and regulatory burdens imposed by the government, including cuts in Medicare funding. More and more doctors will be forced to join large multi-specialty groups where patients like you may have limited ability to see your doctor when you need to. Your doctors will become employees, who will be subject to the organization's policies and practices and consequently may not have adequate time to spend with you to best address and manage your health care issues.

Some members of Congress and political candidates are now calling for minor modifications to the law. Once the election is over, however, we believe they will vote with their party bosses against repealing this bill. Please remember when you vote this November that unless the Democratic party receives a strong message, our health care system may never be fixed and the doctor-patient relationship may be ruined forever.