Posted by
Laura L. Hollis, JD on Saturday, January 23, 2010 4:49:48 PM
Jack:
While I can't verify (at least at the moment) the stats you assert, I'll take them as true.
A "free market" isn't the same as an unregulated one - and I for one would not want an unregulated market anymore than I would want the government to own everything.
I don't honestly know why Canadians pay less than we do for prescriptions - and I would LIKE to know. I question whether it isn't because the Canadian government subsidizes the cost, but even if that's true, I would suspect that there are other reasons.
Yes, I do remember when it was the "Big 8." :)
And while you don't think it's the lawsuits, I still maintain that it is. Docs practice defensive medicine because of the very real risk of liability if they don't order tests A - Z. If they have to be ordering the tests, it is faster and more efficient if the machines are right down the hall. (Speaking from experience, if I had to make an appointment with my OB, and then after that, had to make an appointment to go get the ultrasound, and then had to make ANOTHER appointment for the OB to review the ultrasound - that would be absurd, time-consuming, and potentially harmful, if there was a condition that needed immediate treatment.)
Without a limit on non-economic damages, forbidding docs from owning the machines would just be a guaranteed source of income for someone else - who would have as much incentive for profit.
Finally, we already have a standard of care - negligence and gross negligence are actionable. But that doesn't help if juries interpret that standard of care, and know that they can find "negligence" or "lack of due care" with impunity, because some insurance company in the background (in their view, anyway) is going to pay the bills.
Being able to buy health insurance across state lines, like we do life insurance and car insurance and casualty insurance, would increase competition, and reduce costs.
Finally, I love the analogy to Simon Peter and the boat. But I will add that if every single one of the apostles had done the same thing, the boat would have swamped. And while Jesus Christ could keep them all alive and raise a sunken ship, I don't think anyone in the federal government is that skilled, so I'd just as soon not sink anything, and expect the government to bring it back. :)