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Tinkle Bear , Tuesday, 10th of August 2010 06:14:52 AM

For-profit health care hurts those who need it most by Hugh Curran

Tinkle Bear

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There is much debate about health care yet little consideration 

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for the ethical implications, especially the appropriateness of profit 

Joined: Monday, 14th of June 2010, 07:42:51

motives in the health care industry.

Americans do not seek to 

Posts: 1814

make a profit from education (kindergarten to grade 12), fire or police 

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departments, yet people seriously listen to “industry” lobbyists who 
believe this to be a right in health care.

The philosopher 
Martin Buber defined “evil” as resulting from “indecision.” Where 
health care is involved there is a good deal of indecision, but this 
indecision is largely the result of disinformation by those who profit 
from health care.

If we begin with the understanding that the 
health of the whole country contributes to the health of each of us, we 
can ask if private interests, wishing to maximize profit, should be the 
arbiters of the public good. They are investor-owned businesses that 
design health care systems that benefit their investors. From recent polls 
we know that two-thirds of the public would prefer a system with a public 
option. More than 60 percent of physicians wish for such a system. Unlike 
the propaganda of corporate representatives, a public option in health 
care would provide free choice of physicians for the patient.
/>Lobbyists shamelessly portray the Canadian system in a negative light 
although l have yet to meet a Canadian who would be willing to adopt the 
American model. In fact, no country that has a public option would change 
to the American model for the simple reason that they know that a health 
care system based on profits would deny insurance to those who are most in 
need.

According to the World Health Organization, the U.S. 
ranks low in two of three main categories associated with health care: 
preventive care and cost of care. It is true that in a couple of 
categories the U.S. excels, such as surgery and medical technology, but 
there are many other criteria for good health, especially in the area of 
preventive medicine.

In France, whose general health care 
system is highly regarded throughout the world, providers satisfy the 
three categories: They provide easier access to medical facilities; life 
spans are longer; there is lower child mortality, and there is guaranteed 
health care from cradle to grave financed through tax revenues. The 
government’s role is to make sure that the whole population has access 
to care. It protects patients’ rights, helps to work out policy and is 
the responsible party where health safety is concerned. Despite this, it 
is not a single payer.

America now pays out 17 percent of its 
gross national product on health while France, Canada and England pay less 
than 10 percent. The trillion-dollar additional cost that has been under 
discussion in Congress is based on a 10-year cycle that amounts to $200 
billion per year. Compared to the trillion-dollar bailout of banking 
interests on Wall Street and the trillion-dollar war in Iraq and the 
continuing hemorrhaging of the auto industry, this is a reasonable amount. 


The real reason there are such vehement arguments over public 
options versus private plans does not involve which is superior but which 
approach has the most to lose. Large corporations, whether HMOs or 
pharmaceuticals, are intent on creating indecision and doubt in the minds 
of many Americans concerning universal health care. Most medical 
professionals, including the 3 million-member American Nursing Association 
and the American Medical Association, have endorsed health care plans with 
public options. But with all the lobbying taking place by corporate 
interests there is a real danger that the public option will be removed. 
This would be a major setback for both working and unemployed Americans. 
At this moment 14,000 people per day are losing their health care because 
of the current downturn in the economy.

Democracy cannot long 
survive if the gaps between rich and poor continue to increase and 
continue shifting us toward a small wealthy minority and a disappearing 
middle class. Health care is the largest cause of bankruptcy among the 
elderly. It bleeds and depletes the resources of families even when one 
person suffers a serious accident or illness. Although we pay twice the 
amount per capita as do other developed countries, the results are that we 
are less healthy. Let us support a public option based on the common good. 


Hugh Curran of Surry is an adjunct professor in peace studies 
at the University of Maine. He previously was the director of a Down East 
homeless shelter.
 
 
 
 
 

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SEXYBUNS , Wednesday, 11th of August 2010 07:58:44 PM

No he doesn't. For one thing there are plenty of other &  

BEB , Thursday, 12th of August 2010 11:53:52 AM

Sounds like a commie to me.