Better philosophy instead of more crazy health policy ideas

[asklepios]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Food for thought: the Lucidicus Project (here is a link to the site) takes a totally philosophic approach to healthcare issues. Here's an excerpt:

"Our mission is simple. We help young people in the medical profession understand the moral and economic case for capitalism, the only social system that protects individual rights. A right is a sanction to independent action; it is the right of an individual to think, act, and keep the results of his actions. For doctors, rights imply the freedom to practice their trade, which is medicine.

"Unfortunately, medicine and healthcare are increasingly coming under government control. Laws dictate to doctors who they may treat, how they may treat them, and what they can charge for their services. Instead of being driven by the market, medicine has become the plaything of state officials and pressure groups. The result is the crises of cost, quality, and access that we face today. Without change, it will only get worse.

"If medicine is to be saved, doctors must learn to defend their rights, and in turn, capitalism. Under capitalism, doctors practice medicine in accordance with their own judgment, based on what is best for each individual patient. They are not forced to reconcile the contradictory requirements of scores of administrative committees, reimbursement schedules, and federal practice guidelines. They are free to charge market rates and free to give charity care, but they are not forced to give up their lives or their minds."

Essentially, they give away books to medical students. I'm partial to the idea because although I haven't read Atlas Shrugged, I have read the Fountainhead and Noble Vision so I can vouch for the idea that broad, abstract ideas are powerful and can make little nitpicky articles on policy details look silly in comparison. I haven't read any of the pamphlets that they have, though.

 

[Shredder]

What makes deterioration of private medicine possible is that doctors, by and large, are not philosophically equipped to defend themselves. They are told—and many believe—that the only proper motive for entering medicine is to help others. As a result, those who enter medicine for the self-motivated reasons of intellectual challenge, love of the field, and financial reward are made to feel guilty. This cedes the moral high ground to those who demand self-sacrifice and submission. It paves the way for socialized medicine.

Too true

 

[asklepios]

Too true

That's a great quote.

 

[Lindyhopper]

I don't want to be too "nitpicky" but does this "better philosophy" include things like an unisured newborn being dependent on charity for needed medical care?
Is capitalism as well suited for this situation as say the developement of a better personal computer?

 

[chef_NU]

I don't want to be too "nitpicky" but does this "better philosophy" include things like an unisured newborn being dependent on charity for needed medical care?
Is capitalism as well suited for this situation as say the developement of a better personal computer?

Yes.

 

[Shredder]

I don't want to be too "nitpicky" but does this "better philosophy" include things like an unisured newborn being dependent on charity for needed medical care?
Is capitalism as well suited for this situation as say the developement of a better personal computer?

babies are tricky because you can't hold them to the same standards of accountability and responsibility, but you can do that for the parents. Capitalism in med in analogous to comps/technology in that it brings the best and brightest to the field and ensures progress of research, drugs and procedures as long as there is a profit incentive

 

[asklepios]

I don't want to be too "nitpicky" but does this "better philosophy" include things like an unisured newborn being dependent on charity for needed medical care?
Is capitalism as well suited for this situation as say the developement of a better personal computer?

In the case of a newborn, the baby is obviously unable to take care of itself. No social system can *guarantee* anything for such an unfortunate scenario. But voluntary charity under capitalism by far gives you the best shot.

Put it this way: if you were that helpless baby, would you rather be born into a socialist society where the people that are supposed to take care of you can hardly produce enough to feed themselves, and where every new birth is resented because it represents a drain on everyone else? Or would you rather be born into a capitalist society in which people are so wealthy that they are looking for places to give it away, and where every new birth represents a person who can grow up and become productive and contribute to raising everybody's standard of living?

I'll take the second, please! 🙂

 

[DrFreedom]

Amen! I read "Atlas" as a 2nd-year resident and I made a lot of what I was already thinking more organized and cogent. I have begun to infuriate a lot of folks with some of my op-eds, blogging, etc. on the topic, but it is quite clear: we are descending rapidly into a socialized system. Sadly the older generation of doctors have sold out not only their profession, but their patients as well. It falls to the younger generation of doctors to make this case to the public.

Please come visit us at www.doctorsforfreedom.com where where we think along the same lines.

And hit this link http://homepage.mac.com/toddwest/doctorsforfreedom/Personal4.html to read a GREAT quote on medicine, right from Atlas Shrugged. Hope to hear from you!

Food for thought: the Lucidicus Project (here is a link to the site) takes a totally philosophic approach to healthcare issues. Here's an excerpt:

"Our mission is simple. We help young people in the medical profession understand the moral and economic case for capitalism, the only social system that protects individual rights. A right is a sanction to independent action; it is the right of an individual to think, act, and keep the results of his actions. For doctors, rights imply the freedom to practice their trade, which is medicine.

"Unfortunately, medicine and healthcare are increasingly coming under government control. Laws dictate to doctors who they may treat, how they may treat them, and what they can charge for their services. Instead of being driven by the market, medicine has become the plaything of state officials and pressure groups. The result is the crises of cost, quality, and access that we face today. Without change, it will only get worse.

"If medicine is to be saved, doctors must learn to defend their rights, and in turn, capitalism. Under capitalism, doctors practice medicine in accordance with their own judgment, based on what is best for each individual patient. They are not forced to reconcile the contradictory requirements of scores of administrative committees, reimbursement schedules, and federal practice guidelines. They are free to charge market rates and free to give charity care, but they are not forced to give up their lives or their minds."

Essentially, they give away books to medical students. I'm partial to the idea because although I haven't read Atlas Shrugged, I have read the Fountainhead and Noble Vision so I can vouch for the idea that broad, abstract ideas are powerful and can make little nitpicky articles on policy details look silly in comparison. I haven't read any of the pamphlets that they have, though.

 

[asklepios]

Amen! I read "Atlas" as a 2nd-year resident and I made a lot of what I was already thinking more organized and cogent. ...

Interesting. I wonder: how many people on this forum have read that book? I hear such great things about it.

 

[Perrin]

I've read Atlas Shrugged and I agree with alot of the ideas in the book. Here is another site taking issue with the medico-political situation.

http://www.placebojournal.com

 

[asklepios]

I've read Atlas Shrugged and I agree with alot of the ideas in the book. Here is another site taking issue with the medico-political situation.

http://www.placebojournal.com

Thanks, I had never come across that site before. Some funny stuff there. I like the powerpoint slides.

 

[logos]

Interesting. I wonder: how many people on this forum have read that book? I hear such great things about it.

Excelent book. Both in terms of the story...its a good novel, and in terms of ideas.

"I swear by my Life and my love of it that I will never live for the sake of another man,nor ask another man to live for the sake of mine." - John Galt

 

[noonday]

the fountainhead? y'all can't be serious about garnering a reasonable life and social philosophy from rand and objectivism...

Galt is a self-centered egotistical bastard of a human. and as for the concept of self reliance/self-sufficiency...so, you'll grow your own food, make your own clothes, etc? really? huh.

 

[Perrin]

the fountainhead? y'all can't be serious about garnering a reasonable life and social philosophy from rand and objectivism...

Galt is a self-centered egotistical bastard of a human. and as for the concept of self reliance/self-sufficiency...so, you'll grow your own food, make your own clothes, etc? really? huh.

I don't think you understood the point of the book. To take the books ideas to the extreme would be impractical.

 

[logos]

I don't think you understood the point of the book. To take the books ideas to the extreme would be impractical.

And Rand does occasionally take it too far in the story....but I think its intended to get a point across.

 

[asklepios]

Food for thought: the Lucidicus Project (here is a link to the site) takes a totally philosophic approach to healthcare issues. ...

Essentially, they give away books to medical students. ...

Just as a follow-up to my own post above, I spoke with (in other words, I emailed) the director of the lucidicus project to ask whether there are any options for people who want one of the free "self-defense kits" that they give away but who already own one of the books in the kit. He said we could request just the books/pamphlets/cd we want if we have some of them. He also said that they are looking into offering another book called the Capitalist Manifesto as a substitute for anyone who has already read Atlas Shrugged.

I think this is pretty cool!!! 😀