In general, I'm with you in agreement that the American medical system has the capacity for the highest standards of individual health care. Where my bleeding heart departs though, is that for the average American... not so much, and that doesn't sit well. Our system is wonderful, for those catastrophically ill, or just wanting access to frivolous procedures! As I've mentioned before, I'm a bit at a loss, nor do I propose any answers.
However your average medical clinic is not on the lead of this cutting edge research or actively contributing to the development of advanced procedures. Now that I think of it, it's almost like Germany's two tiered system... except, we're not benefiting from the reduced costs of the one side.
Well...I consider myself, and our children pretty much average Americans, and we collectively have no complaints about medical care in this country. Several years ago, my wife developed vision problems, and was quickly referred to a group that truly provided "cutting edge" care, all the way out to treatment protocols that were not, as yet, FDA approved. As a result, although significantly diminished, she still has functional eyesight. Were she treated in one of the socalist paradises of western Europe, she would have been written off due to her age, and told to go sit in the corner and go blind quietly. Her physician, who actually interned in the UK, told us that this was exactly standard practice for her prognosis under their national healthcare system.
Five years ago, my brother developed a virulent form of cancer, that typically kills the victim within months. His health insurance carrier quickly had him transported to Sloan-Kettering where he received again "cutting edge" care, and as a result, he survived for over three years. He would have been treated conventionally, and "written off", in Canada, UK, France, Germany, or any of the others.
In all of these personal experiences, understand that we actually PAY for quality health insurance, and the carriers treated our situations with effective treatment at minimal costs to us during the situations involved. The carrier that my wife and I have, (Aetna PPO) continually monitors our health, and frequently calls us to remind us that we need to contact our primary care physician for checkups and ongoing care for certain health situations.........they are excellent.
I suspect that your "heart bleeds" not for the average American, but for those who, frequently for reasons of their own life choices, do not avail thenselves of the health care opportunities that we have in this country. For example.......one of our neighbors (a retired teacher) has a daughter who is able-bodied, and capable of providing for herself. She, however, has had two children without benefit of a husband, lives with a nere-do-well guy on a "poverty farm" outside of town, receives ADC payments, as well as Medicaid.....further, she raises feeds, and cares for three horses, and buys all of the necessary accouterments, such as a horse trailer, pickup, riding apparel, and tack. I will not argue with you that this woman likely did not receive "cutting edge" medical care, when one of her useless children stole a handgun from his grandfather and managed to shoot himself in the hand last year.......my point is
I don't really give a damn whether she did or not........she chose to spend her limited resources on horses instead of decent health insurance.......her choice. It is not the responsibility of the responsible members of society to provide for those who act irresponsibly.
doc
