AMA It's not just about us

AMA It's not just about us:


Some excerpts from the address of AMA President Nancy Nielsen:

"We need fundamental change in our health care system for ourselves, for our patients, for our nation. Right now annual health care costs exceed $2 trillion. That's 16 percent of our nation's GDP. Costs are estimated to reach $4 trillion and 20 percent of GDP in 10 years.

Right now, annual health care costs are the number one reason for bankruptcy. Right now, Americans get about half the preventive services that are recommended. Right now, we rank 19th among 19 developed countries in mortality that could be helped by health care. That means deaths that might have been prevented by health care. Nineteenth out of 19.

Forty-six million Americans have no health insurance, and another 29 million are underinsured. Those 75 million Americans are delaying or failing to obtain preventive care.

In our nation's sick economy, job losses mean the loss of health insurance. Just yesterday, the government reported that employers cut 240,000 jobs in October alone. And so far in 2008, some 1.2 million jobs have been lost.

We as a nation have to do some serious soul searching. We are the most innovative, resilient, determined, self-reliant and creative nation in the world. Our health care system ought to be the best in the world but currently it is not.

Today we pay twice what other countries with better health outcomes pay. But we rank last or next to last in many health indices. And, that's compared with Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

Now, we can try to protect the status quo. But the status quo is not serving patients well, and doctors are angry and unhappy. It is high time we do something about it and I'm not talking about single-payer. I am, however, talking about comprehensive change. I'm talking about responsible change that builds on the strengths of the current system. Isn't it time to build a bridge to a new and better health system? A system where patients are better served and physicians are happier and more fulfilled in their work?"

...

"Do you remember this pivotal question during one of the presidential debates? "Is health care a right, a privilege or a responsibility?" Whatever our personal convictions on the answer to this question, the broader population seems to be moving fairly rapidly to the view that health care is a right.

But who will pay for this right, if that's the country's decision? Who will define the parameters of this right to health care? Because everyone cannot have everything, and society should not have to provide everything, nor can it afford to do so.

Take education as an example of setting parameters. Our society has decided that K-12 education is a right, but post-secondary education is a privilege and a responsibility.

Defining parameters for health care "rights" and "responsibilities" will require society's honest deliberation and some difficult decisions. For sure we have to define the expectations of personal responsibility. What is fair to expect the individual to do? What should be up to the individual, and what should be society's concerns?"

...

"As we participate with the rest of society in this debate, we cannot allow the discussion to descend into ideology and inflammatory labels. If we do, if we allow reason to be trumped by rhetoric, then we will have lost our chance to shape the change, to build the bridge to a better health system.

So I ask you, are we prepared to participate in that societal debate? Because the debate is going to happen. This is not just about doctors. It is not just about us. But physicians and patients will have to live with the outcomes. That's why we have a central role to play.

We all use the commons and that is why we all have to do our part to protect it. Make no mistake, I am not in favor of a single-payer system. I am in favor of a health care system that works better for all of us, patients and physicians.

We're in a time when our country is demanding change. We need change. Let's harness that energy for our patients and ourselves. For sure, this is for us - we have to remove the sand from our shoes. But it is for so much more than us."

...

"In many countries, when people are scared, they turn to government for protection. Even though many do not trust Washington politics, they may see it as their only option. There is great concern in our country. We need to help calm those fears. We need to embrace our role as healers in a time of need. We need to help craft a solution that is based on our professional ethics--one that is equitable and just, one that builds on the strengths of our system, addresses current weaknesses, and allows us to regain the joy and simple dignity of caring for our patients. "

Please go check out the whole thing. Credit where credit is due. It is a remarkable statement from the the AMA President.

I am concerned by the last paragraph I quoted, however. My goal is to turn to my government for fairness, and it is not our of fear, it is out of anger at the mismanagement of our system and at the giant sucking sound, to quote Ross Perot, that emanates from our insurers, Pharma, and ourselves that makes our system so inefficient. So, I hope this is not the line in the sand that the AMA is drawing, that a solution based upon strong government regulation is off the table.

Sphere: Related Content