California bill to drug test all doctors and raise malpractice awards

[DermViser]

thats one thing that bothers me though is that a lot ppl assume the stereotypes in CA by visiting San Francisco and Los Angeles when there are other places in state that are nowhere near as dirty/corrupt as these two. That is like me assuming all people in the Midwest are rednecks or all Middle Easterners as terrorists.

If you've seen the CA state budget, the whole place is corrupt. I can't wait till that state goes bankrupt and turns to the feds for help. I say after that we can take all its electoral votes and give it to red states.

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[Silent Cool]

California is a political ****hole.

Yup.

@Baller MD ,
What's your take on the people who think California is a fiscal utopia? I mean are they nuts, naive, economically oblivious, decidedly pathologically socialist, etc..?

 

[Silent Cool]

If you've seen the CA state budget, the whole place is corrupt. I can't wait till that state goes bankrupt and turns to the feds for help. I say after that we can take all its electoral votes and give it to red states.

I think that California as a state and Los Angeles specifically are headed the way of Detroit.

http://reason.com/archives/2014/07/23/los-angeles-is-killing-itself

Sadly, as California goes, so goes the nation.

Let's hope we can make this happen:

 

[Mskincer]

If you've seen the CA state budget, the whole place is corrupt. I can't wait till that state goes bankrupt and turns to the feds for help. I say after that we can take all its electoral votes and give it to red states.

I agree with you on the budget, thats why I intend to work in Nevada in the future (no income tax, warm weather, and viva Las Vegas). What gets me is that ppl assume everyone in CA is some welfare recipient. Considering I had to work as a busboy for a quite a while I sure could use that welfare that I supposedly have according to others.

 

[BobbyB]

californian who is planning to work in WA checking in

 

[Arkangeloid]

Considering the fact that people have also expressed opinions about drug testing, it IS what this thread is partly about.



Because most of us are mature enough not to choose our political parties based on who else is in it. If we weren't, we'd wonder why anyone is a Republican, given names like Ted Cruz and Todd Akin. I happen to be an Independent and I've voted on both sides of the aisle, depending on the issue. Anyone voting strictly on party is the reason the country is in shambles to begin with.

A few gaffes and random bits of idiocy from Cruz and Aiken cannot compare to a man who made his living from hurting members of our profession.

 

[DermViser]

A few gaffes and random bits of idiocy from Cruz and Aiken cannot compare to a man who made his living from hurting members of our profession.

And he made quite a good living doing it:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2004/aug/16/20040816-011234-1949r/?page=all
During jury selection, Mr. Edwards asked potential jurors whether they could hold a doctor responsible for the suicide of their patients. “I got a lot of speeches from potential jurors who said they did not understand how that doctor could be responsible,” Mr. Edwards recalled in an interview shortly after the trial. Those persons were excluded from the jury.

Linking complications during childbirth to cerebral palsy became a specialty for Mr. Edwards. In the courtroom, he was known to dramatize the events at birth by speaking to jurors as if he were the unborn baby, begging for help, begging to be let out of the womb.

 

[Espadaleader]

How can the gov. drug test private citizens? Why aren't NPs, PAs, Optoms etc getting tested?

 

[Elisabeth Kate]

A few gaffes and random bits of idiocy from Cruz and Aiken cannot compare to a man who made his living from hurting members of our profession.

Only to you. Frankly, I think Cruz and Akin are just as bad and to simply call their delusions "gaffes" is very telling. You go on your merry way voting straight Republican, regardless of issues. As I said, people who do that are the reason the country is in shambles. Unfortunately, most of them are too politically illiterate to realize it.

 

[PL198]

californian who is planning to work in WA checking in

Washington is just as bad brah. WA, Oregon and CA all could fall off from the country and I'd be thrilled.

 

[BobbyB]

Washington is just as bad brah. WA, Oregon and CA all could fall off from the country and I'd be thrilled.

where would you suggest?

 

[IJL]

A few gaffes and random bits of idiocy from Cruz and Aiken cannot compare to a man who made his living from hurting members of our profession.

Could you list some of Cruz's delusions please?

 

[Elisabeth Kate]

Could you list some of Cruz's delusions please?

Comparing the fight against Obamacare to the fight against the Nazis, for one.

 

[Mad Jack]

Physicians should sponsor a counter-bill to drug test lawyers. After all, if we should be drug testing our physicians, why shouldn't we be drug testing the people that make our laws, provide legal advice for our businesses, prosecute and defend the accused, etc? I'd love to see how they responded to that one.

 

[Slack3r]

where would you suggest?

Not large, coastal, desirable blue states/cities, unfortunately.

 

[IlDestriero]

where would you suggest?

 

[TooMuchResearch]

Reason #2,456 why I won't practice or live in CA

Hey, I am may not even visit again.

 

[TooMuchResearch]

thats one thing that bothers me though is that a lot ppl assume the stereotypes in CA by visiting San Francisco and Los Angeles when there are other places in state that are nowhere near as dirty/corrupt as these two. That is like me assuming all people in the Midwest are rednecks or all Middle Easterners as terrorists.

Rednecks aren't from the Midwest...

 

[TooMuchResearch]

In all seriousness, maybe this will be limited to one of the six Californias?

 

[Wordead]

Rednecks aren't from the Midwest...

Anything not on the coast is redneck country

 

[dadaddadaBATMAN]

Exactly. Only places like NY, CA, or even MA can even think of pulling this ****.

I wish this were true
Isn't oregon compensating nps at the rate of a family practitioner?

 

[dadaddadaBATMAN]

the day CA has a surplus is the day when the Cleveland Browns win a Super Bowl

Why....just why...ever heard of kicking a man when he's down?

 

[WhippleWhileWeWork]

Anything not on the coast is redneck country

But there are 3 coasts. One is redneck ground zero.

 

[Sephiroth]

Now I know why I hate places like California and New York.

All of us have known why for quite a long time. Not sure what that has to do with this specific bill though.

If you've seen the CA state budget, the whole place is corrupt. I can't wait till that state goes bankrupt and turns to the feds for help. I say after that we can take all its electoral votes and give it to red states.

yep, there it is.

 

[yappy]

And yet people on welfare do not get drug-tested.

WTF.

I've had someone explain to me that this would be a bad thing because many would test positive and not get benefits; they said that the reason many need help is because of a drug habit and this would take away their "lifeline".

EDIT: Read the rest of this thread and see that a few are making the same argument. Is there no societal response to someone who refuses to take care of themselves and robs their neighbor of their money -> time -> life?
As far as CA is concerned I've heard that there is talk of splitting the state in half where the state line would separate the more affluent-industries-conservative region from the welfare-liberal region... almost an east/west Berlin like scenario.

 

[Mad Jack]

I wish this were true
Isn't oregon compensating nps at the rate of a family practitioner?

Contemplating? I thought it was already done. They let NDs prescribe FFS. Oregon and WA are ground zero for bad medical policy.

 

[IlDestriero]

Survival of the fittest worked for hundreds of millions of years...

 

[DermViser]

I wish this were true
Isn't oregon compensating nps at the rate of a family practitioner?

Oregon is a complete liberal cesspool in their attempt at universal healthcare for all - and Oregon doctors have left. Their Oregon Medicaid study supports what opponents have been saying all along. Yes, the bill you're referencing has long been passed. NPs are reimbursed on par with physicians.

 

[DermViser]

Yup.

@Baller MD ,
What's your take on the people who think California is a fiscal utopia? I mean are they nuts, naive, economically oblivious, decidedly pathologically socialist, etc..?

They're hippies who benefit from it. Of course it's a utopia for them.

 

[maxxor]

Anything not on the coast is redneck country

Please explain Florida then.

 

[Arkangeloid]

Only to you. Frankly, I think Cruz and Akin are just as bad and to simply call their delusions "gaffes" is very telling. You go on your merry way voting straight Republican, regardless of issues. As I said, people who do that are the reason the country is in shambles. Unfortunately, most of them are too politically illiterate to realize it.

Look lady, you're a physician, and I am going to be a physician (though I may wish it otherwise, knowing what I know now). That means we have to think about what is best for physicians. And the Democrats have proven to be our enemies, favoring the ACA, expansion of NP scope of practice, and counting John Edwards among their ranks. How can you bring yourself to back even one Democrat?

And if you remember Aiken, you should remember that Republicans asked him to end his campaign after his comments. Democrats rewarded John Edwards by making him Kerry's running mate.

 

[Wordead]

Please explain Florida then.

There are plenty of reckneck areas in California too.

If a, then b does not mean if b, then a.

 

[Silent Cool]

Please explain Florida then.

That doesn't mean that coastal areas can't be redneck also. It simply means that anything in the interior of the country is redneck.

 

[DermViser]

Look lady, you're a physician, and I am going to be a physician (though I may wish it otherwise, knowing what I know now). That means we have to think about what is best for physicians. And the Democrats have proven to be our enemies, favoring the ACA, expansion of NP scope of practice, and counting John Edwards among their ranks. How can you bring yourself to back even one Democrat?

And if you remember Aiken, you should remember that Republicans asked him to end his campaign after his comments. Democrats rewarded John Edwards by making him Kerry's running mate.

Excellent post. Although to be fair John Edwards sleaziness came out after 2008 (unless you're talking about him being a malpractice lawyer). -1 on the "Look lady" thing but you're improving.

 

[Arkangeloid]

Excellent post. Although to be fair John Edwards sleaziness came out after 2008 (unless you're talking about him being a malpractice lawyer). -1 on the "Look lady" thing but you're improving.

Yeah, I meant the whole malpractice lawyer thing. I know the affair crap only came out recently.

As for the "lady" thing, I don't get it, I thought "lady" was a normative term to refer to a young woman. Should I have called her a "bish"? Is she a man (like I thought Anasto was)?

 

[DermViser]

Yeah, I meant the whole malpractice lawyer thing. I know the affair crap only came out recently.

As for the "lady" thing, I don't get it, I thought "lady" was a normative term to refer to a young woman. Should I have called her a "bish"? Is she a man (like I thought Anasto was)?

Bc you wouldn't point out a male's gender if he was making the same point. And no it's not normative, when it's used as to refer directly to the person when you're responding to them.

http://time.com/22004/how-to-not-sound-like-a-sexist-jerk-even-if-youre-a-woman/

 

[Elisabeth Kate]

Look lady, you're a physician, and I am going to be a physician (though I may wish it otherwise, knowing what I know now). That means we have to think about what is best for physicians

Perhaps that's at the top of your list. For me, I'm also a human being who happens to be a physician. That means that I look out for the interest of myself and the country as well and sorry to inform you of this since you're apparently the most naive creature on the planet right after Henny Penny, but the Republicans aren't looking out for you as a person any more than the Democrats are.

As for the "lady" thing, I don't get it, I thought "lady" was a normative term to refer to a young woman. Should I have called her a "bish"? Is she a man (like I thought Anasto was)?

I'm not so sure you're going to be a physician and you shouldn't be either. You're just the type of person who comes here during third year and/or after Step 2 CS to complain that you don't understand why you did so poorly. All I have to say is that you better learn some social skills fast.

 

[Arkangeloid]

Perhaps that's at the top of your list. For me, I'm also a human being who happens to be a physician. That means that I look out for the interest of myself and the country as well and sorry to inform you of this since you're apparently the most naive creature on the planet right after Henny Penny, but the Republicans aren't looking out for you as a person any more than the Democrats are.

No, the Republicans are not. But the Democrats are deliberately trying to ruin our profession, and they have made that abundantly clear. So what choice do we have?

I'm not so sure you're going to be a physician and you shouldn't be either. You're just the type of person who comes here during third year and/or after Step 2 CS to complain that you don't understand why you did so poorly. All I have to say is that you better learn some social skills fast.

I have done you no wrong, and yet you scorn me? I'll not suffer your insults.

 

[Elisabeth Kate]

LOL, k.

 

[DermViser]

Perhaps that's at the top of your list. For me, I'm also a human being who happens to be a physician. That means that I look out for the interest of myself and the country as well and sorry to inform you of this since you're apparently the most naive creature on the planet right after Henny Penny, but the Republicans aren't looking out for you as a person any more than the Democrats are.

I'll take Republicans who pass bills on tort reform over the other side who is beholden to trial lawyers. I'll take Republicans who don't revamp 1/6th of the economy with even greater govt. intervention.

 

[Wordead]

Look lady, you're a physician, and I am going to be a physician (though I may wish it otherwise, knowing what I know now). That means we have to think about what is best for physicians. And the Democrats have proven to be our enemies, favoring the ACA, expansion of NP scope of practice, and counting John Edwards among their ranks. How can you bring yourself to back even one Democrat?

And if you remember Aiken, you should remember that Republicans asked him to end his campaign after his comments. Democrats rewarded John Edwards by making him Kerry's running mate.

Lol dude you think republicans were against the ACA because they are the allies (or at least not enemies) of physicians? They're politicians, they couldnt care less. They voted against it because it was Obama's plan. Idiot physicians just think they should vote republican because their tax views are more in line with high income earners. You're screwing yourself with either party, but at least try to not be completely naive.

Not to mention, doctors did this to themselves. Our healthcare delivery was completely unsustainable and ineffective and leadership did nothing to address it when they did have power, so now it's politicians dictating healthcare. We're all against the ACA, midlevel creep, etc, but we have no organized response in proposing alternatives. It's just old ****ing attendings complaining about the proposals and stagnating medicine.

/drunk rant

 

[PL198]

Why do the interests of physicians have to not align with the interests of the country? I don't get the sentiment where anything good for doctors hurts the country and anything bad for them, helps it.

 

[sinombre]

Writing off all of California because it's a political nightmare is kind of silly IMO. I know the "hopefully California physically separates from the continental US" sentiment is hyperbolic, but still... after having lived here for 26 years, it is a great place to live.

FWIW, I am also a fiscal conservative, especially compared to most Californians.

 

[DermViser]

Lol dude you think republicans were against the ACA because they are the allies (or at least not enemies) of physicians? They're politicians, they couldnt care less. They voted against it because it was Obama's plan. Idiot physicians just think they should vote republican because their tax views are more in line with high income earners. You're screwing yourself with either party, but at least try to not be completely naive.

Not to mention, doctors did this to themselves. Our healthcare delivery was completely unsustainable and ineffective and leadership did nothing to address it when they did have power, so now it's politicians dictating healthcare. We're all against the ACA, midlevel creep, etc, but we have no organized response in proposing alternatives. It's just old ******* attendings complaining about the proposals and stagnating medicine.

/drunk rant

You really must be drunk as you're saying that u are in your post. On the Lord's day no less. Republicans were against it bc it's even more govt. involvement and spending.

 

[KinasePro]

Not to mention, doctors did this to themselves. Our healthcare delivery was completely unsustainable and ineffective and leadership did nothing to address it when they did have power, so now it's politicians dictating healthcare. We're all against the ACA, midlevel creep, etc, but we have no organized response in proposing alternatives. It's just old ******* attendings complaining about the proposals and stagnating medicine.

Truth. Roughly half of currently practicing doctors fell asleep at the wheel and let all this sh1t fester. Amazing how they have the gall to complain about how "young doctors are different these days, no longer as dedicated as we were, need naps and work hour restrictions, blah blah blah..." Yeah, thanks for not taking care of your own profession and effing it up for those behind you. Way to pay it forward...

 

[Elisabeth Kate]

Why do the interests of physicians have to not align with the interests of the country? I don't get the sentiment where anything good for doctors hurts the country and anything bad for them, helps it.

No one said that the interests of physicians has to not align with the interests of the country. But to back a single party just because you're a physician is naive, to say the least. There are many issues in politics besides the ones that pertain to healthcare. Unfortunately, many med students don't acknowledge that.

 

[DermViser]

Why do the interests of physicians have to not align with the interests of the country? I don't get the sentiment where anything good for doctors hurts the country and anything bad for them, helps it.

Bc you are the 1%ers that the country is against. You can have your seat right next to Wall Street bankers as far as the country is concerned.

 

[DermViser]

Truth. Roughly half of currently practicing doctors fell asleep at the wheel and let all this sh1t fester. Amazing how they have the gall to complain about how "young doctors are different these days, no longer as dedicated as we were, need naps and work hour restrictions, blah blah blah..." Yeah, thanks for not taking care of your own profession and effing it up for those behind you. Way to pay it forward...

While I agree with you in some ways. That's hardly the case. The population is getting sicker, so it's no surprise that more interventions are being done bc the public wants and demands it. The govt.'s goal is essentially to stop paying for services and start rationing. This isn't physician's fault.

 

[Elisabeth Kate]

You really must be drunk as you're saying that u are in your post. On the Lord's day no less. Republicans were against it bc it's even more govt. involvement and spending.

Yeah, that's the Republican line, but come on. Republicans have no trouble with government involvement if it means outlawing who can get married, telling a woman what to do with her body, and enhancing border security. Let's not act like politics isn't politics. These guys are politicians on both sides of the aisle. They'll be against most things the other side supports and they'll convince themselves it's for noble reasons.

 

[DermViser]

No one said that the interests of physicians has to not align with the interests of the country. But to back a single party just because you're a physician is naive, to say the least. There are many issues in politics besides the ones that pertain to healthcare. Unfortunately, many med students don't acknowledge that.

What's your point? Do teachers care about physicians?