>>OFF TOPIC
Bill,
>>Does having a good paying insurance plan
cause chronic conditions that require frequent visits to the Doctor?<<
Reading between the lines, I think you are suggesting that physicians' personal interest in getting paid may increase the "care" you get. Maybe, all of it is somewhat alien to me, as I guy who went to med school before widespread insurance and who never expected to do very well financially. There are several considerations:
First, can there be too much "care", excluding painful or dangerous procedures? There can certainly be excessive visits, and I know there are large numbers of "questionably" necessary X-rays, scans, specialist visits and biopsies done to keep the lawyers at bay. I don't know about "unncessary surgery" since the concept of doing a surgical procedure on another human being just for money is so unthinkable to me (sort of like child abuse) that I have trouble accepting that it could actually be done. I have mixed emotions about some who jump to elaborate diagnostic procedures (endoscopies, etc.), but hardly a week goes by that I don't see some early cancer found. So I'm glad I don't do the diagnostic stuff or have to ration care to save money for some HMO. A surgeon can afford to be a purist. "I wouldn't recommend an operation for a patient that I wouldn't want done on me or my family members." Case closed, and I don't ever have to worry about feeling guilty about my recommendations. The fear of lawsuit must prey on the minds of the diagnosticians, though, and they must balance that fear against the fear of being dropped from the "panel" of the HMO for doing too many diagnostic tests. Disgusting.
Then, too, many of the conditions which get treated might well go away by themselves if left alone, although perhaps more slowly.
I could go on, but I think I've said it all before. I promised Christine on the Feelings Thread that I'd do up a health care essay, and I haven't forgotten, but apologies to this thread for this off topic post. Just trying to answer one addressed to me.
Best wishes,
Jack |
