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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: epicure who wrote (21127)	12/22/2003 9:57:50 PM
From: LindyBill	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793711

When you don't have children, it's easy not to give it much thought. Even when they have the bucks, it is hard to get people to go to the Doctor. Especially with children. We are always hearing complaints about women not being able to afford pre-natal care, but the dirty little secret is that even when it is offered free, a lot of women won't go. Free care and education is not going to solve all problems.

To: epicure who wrote (21127)	12/22/2003 10:32:02 PM
From: michael97123	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 793711

X, Appreciate this thoughtful post. I have passed the source along to my daughter who has two young kids. We may disagree on much, but as far as kids go, I think we are on the same page. Mike

To: epicure who wrote (21127)	12/23/2003 7:28:20 AM
From: Lane3	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 793711

I've been reading all the articles for years since I have children, and I've been in the health care system seeking help for them. You and I are talking about two different things, I think, or at least the same thing from a different perspective. I am looking at it from a public health perspective. That is quite different from looking at health care from the perspective of an individual patient or parent. Of course you get all the health care you feel you need for your kids based on whatever criteria you deem appropriate. You are a doting parent who can afford her kids, with or without health insurance. Now to the politics of public health. Public health does not have at its core the best interests of the individual but that of the population at large. You want to see everyone be able to treat their kids as you do yours whether they can afford it or not. I presume that as a taxpayer, you're willing to pay for that. As a taxpayer, I'm not too inclined to subsidize folks taking kids they can't afford for expensive medical care that they don't need. You may or may not take your kids to the doctor when they have a cold. It's none of my business if you want to spend your money that way. When I'm paying for it, though, it becomes my business. I don't want to pay for that. Doctors can't do anything for a cold that a mom can't do. You post advocates well child care. You mention a variety of medical problems none of which is preventable by well child care. Malnutrition and obesity in children are preventable in virtually all cases without any assistance whatsoever from a doctor. Skin diseases and asthma aren't discovered by doctors during well child visits, they have symptoms that prompt a parent to seek medical care. Developmental problems may be caught by a routine exam, but more likely would be noticed by parents or teachers if they are noticed at all. If I had kids, I would likely take them in for checkups just to be safe. I would certainly treat infants that way. But I don't see how well child care for kids old enough to tell you when they're not feeling well could possibly be described as a medical necessity for the individual let alone something that should be subsidized as a matter of public health.