A Thorn in My Saddle!

Monday evening, July 21, 2008
Today, I enjoyed my annual physical, along with all the "blessings" that are typical for such an experience. If you haven't enjoyed one of these, I highly recommend that you schedule one ASAP! There are some things that you do NOT want to miss, and this is one of them—trust me.
Anyway, I really do like my doctor (internist), as he is not only personable, but also a very thorough physician (this is what I was referring to in the first paragraph)—far removed from the helter-skelter medical complexes downtown. Thankfully, he chose to move away from all the mass-confusion, sit-and-wait nonsense, that is so typical in most medical practices, into a small house he renovated on a rather quiet street far-removed from the hospital sites. He has a solo practice, and believe it or not, he actually takes the time to listen to whatever I have to say and to carefully and thoroughly do his exam. Listen to this: His wife works in his office!
Just for the record, I did pass the exam, with flying colors, or so he said. I do have to have my blood work done in the morning, so I am trusting that it will agree with his assessment! I will let you know, when I know.
Now to my point: A major part of our conversation centered in his disappointment and frustration with the direction the medical profession is taking. He is no longer able to do what he was trained to do because some insurance company(s), who has NO medical expertise, certainly none about my body, tells him what he can and cannot do and what they will pay him to do it. Then of course there is the ever-present dread of lawsuits that the greedy want to file and all-too-often win! Of course, this is the "biggie"—universal health care.
Folks, we have the finest medical system on this planet and, yet, it seems that politicians are determined to "fix what ain't broken" by providing medical insurance for everyone, with an even greater control over how the Doc practices and what he gets paid. Listen up: Universal health care will NOT work and you can take that to the bank. You will NOT like having to wait a year to have your appendix removed by a doctor that you do not know and, worse, does not know you. You will be happy to return to an hour's wait in YOUR Doc's reception room!
Before everyone jumps on this universal health care "freebee," let me remind you that there will be no doctors practicing medicine because there will be no students going to medical school and enduring THAT grind and expense, only to have the government and insurance companies tell them how to practice and what they can be paid.
Let me correct that: there will be doctors because foreigners will be flowing into our medical schools, filling all those vacant seats, attempting to get in on the American Dream. Dream on, dear one, while you throw the best-of-the best under the bus! In case you can't tell, I am NOT for universal health care—positively and absolutely NOT.