When so-called Obama Care was being attacked prior to its initial passage, I was surprised to learn from an essay in the NYRB that there were in excess of a dozen lobbyists in DC for each Congress person and Senator. Each lobbyist was trying to influence the legislators for their respective employers. The AMA had its lobbyists front and center. No one wants to do more work for less money. Eventually, the argument always ends with a comparison of the quality of care in countries with national healthcare versus the care we obtain from our capitalistic system. The overall data comparison is not favorable to our capitalistic system. Capitalism is in our American DNA, and reducing costs will always be at odds with good medical care. It is why medical malpractice insurance exists supported by the Standard of Care for the expert witnesses. It is why the last document you see and are asked to sign before you are wheeled into the operating room is the consent form releasing everybody from the parking lot attendant to the hospital President of any responsibility for a mistake that may occur. Sadly, it is the way things work.
When so-called Obama Care was being attacked prior to its initial passage, I was surprised to learn from an essay in the NYRB that there were in excess of a dozen lobbyists in DC for each Congress person and Senator. Each lobbyist was trying to influence the legislators for their respective employers. The AMA had its lobbyists front and center. No one wants to do more work for less money. Eventually, the argument always ends with a comparison of the quality of care in countries with national healthcare versus the care we obtain from our capitalistic system. The overall data comparison is not favorable to our capitalistic system. Capitalism is in our American DNA, and reducing costs will always be at odds with good medical care. It is why medical malpractice insurance exists supported by the Standard of Care for the expert witnesses. It is why the last document you see and are asked to sign before you are wheeled into the operating room is the consent form releasing everybody from the parking lot attendant to the hospital President of any responsibility for a mistake that may occur. Sadly, it is the way things work.
Thank you for posting this. It’s a bit depressing but important to consider nonetheless
Markets work well for many things but not for delivering quality medical care.