Socialized medicine

[pozorvlak]

A useful data point in the largely fact-free argument between Libertarians and everyone else: private-only health care doesn't work, in the sense that it delivers substantially lower levels of public health....the United States has been the unwitting control subject in a 30-year, worldwide experiment comparing the merits of private versus public

Comments

[susannahf]

It's really very frightening, isn't it? I've heard of poor kids in the states who die of asthma before they reach their teens because they're only covered for (presumably personnel-intensive, expensive) emergency room treatment, but not for the preventative drugs that cost less than £50 a year (rounded up).

[susannahf]

If you're interested in this sort of thing from the american doctor's point of view, Robin Cook (no, not that one) is an american doctor turned author who writes thrillers based on medicine and medical science. They're well written, with science that is either correct or a believable extrapolation from current knowledge, and the causes of almost all the disasters lie in the tug-of-war between effective patient care and profit.

[johnckirk]

Ah, that's interesting - I read a few of his novels when I was at school, and I quite liked them, but I hadn't realised that he was a doctor rather than writing Dan Brown style.

[pozorvlak]

Yeah, I've read a couple of Robin Cook novels, but not for a few years. I may look some more out...

a view from the states

[susoeffl]

I've been waiting to see a dentist for 4 months so that when I go it will be covered. Right now the only reason I have any insurance is my parents are paying for it.

I'm getting Health insurance through work in the beggining of february. This is the most exciting thing and a big part of the reason I'm staying in one job rather than looking for places that pay more money.

What is really bad is that people who are generally not covered are the ones that need doctors notes if they are home sick from a job. and it costs money to see a doctor to get such a note. so to get off work legitamately they have to spend upwards of $70 (as much as some people make in a day). Also people in this position generally are hourly or part time so they don't get sick days either. so they lose another $70 or so dollars per day they are sick. So it's like missing an extra day of work on top of not getting paid.

it's really crap.

Just a note, since you mentioned it.

[bronxelf_ag001]

It's no secret that Lime Project was my idea, and I run the organization. We've gone WAY out of our way to avoid political associations (in fact, we turned Michael Moore down just a week ago) because that's not what our project is about. There are people who have worked on this project from all over the political spectrum and so dipping toes into the politics of health care seemed to be counterproductive at best.

However, I should mention that the reason Lime Project got *started* was because the person who started it (me), is a libertarian.

I believe in funding by individuals and a lack of government intervention into my health care.

Ironic, no?

Re: Just a note, since you mentioned it.

[pozorvlak]

The irony was not lost on me.

OK, in case anyone was in any doubt: the Lime Project is in no way associated or affiliated with any campaigning or political organisation. It's making neither a libertarian nor a pro-government point, and I in no way intended to imply that it was. It's still a good cause, so go! Buy calendars!

Re: Just a note, since you mentioned it.

[pozorvlak]

As you've probably guessed, a good part of the reason I posted this link here was to get your and michiexile's reactions (in your personal, not your Lime Project capacity, obviously). "Funding by individuals and a lack of government intervention into my health care" sounds good, but is it worth the increase in mortality rates? Or do you really mean "Give me liberty or give me death?" Can a belief in private health care be sustained in the face of evidence that for-profit hospitals have higher death rates*? yourhermione is lucky enough to have friends like you who do great things to keep her alive, but not everyone is so lucky - do we just care about the popular people? I'd really like to know your answers

Re: Just a note, since you mentioned it.

[bronxelf_ag001]

Funny should bring this up right now. If you check my moblog you will see I've just posted a photo of my thermometer. I have a fever of 38.5 c. (101.3F)I got out of bed to reply here, since this would be impossible to do on my phone

[sable_veins]

There is a proper forum for this sort of discussion, sir.

GETINTHEBACKOFTHEVAN!!

[pozorvlak]

Yes - this started out as a the_rhexis post, and will become one soon once I've made the minimal changes necessary.