This article was posted on the website for a Savannah news station, WTOC 11. It basically gives a new perspective on the health care debate. We have heard from Democrats and Republicans both for and against the bill but this gives the perspective of those who will be working in the aftermath of the bill every day, the doctors. The article is unbiased and quotes medical students who are for the bill, against it, and somewhere in the middle. Some students are considering changing their career paths in the medical field while others are embracing Obama’s plans to open up health care for all because it would reduce the amount of paper work for doctors and hospitals as well as alleviate some of the over crowding in emergency rooms. The consensus of most of the medical students interviewed is that some kind of health care reform is needed in this country. I found it interesting that none of the doctors interviewed were worried about pay cuts but rather having to deal with insurance companies or more paper work. Overall, the tone of the article is hopeful ending with a quote from a medical student named Allen ,“I could make nothing in a year and I could deal with insurance all day, but if I get to take care of one person each day, then to me, that's still worth it."
This article was posted on September 9, 2009.
Link to full article as well as a video. http://www.wtoctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11102022
I think Melanie Ruberti brings up an interesting point in this article--that doctors' voices in the health care debate are seldom heard. Though President Barack Obama's proposed bill will ensure that all Americans have insurance, the bill also adds more stress to doctors. Even if this stress is not necessarily bad, it is something to consider when debating this piece of legislation.
ReplyDeleteRuberti brings up another interesting angle in the health care reform article as she quotes students wishing to become doctors. If President Obama's bill is passed, these students may have to change their medical conentration or consider going into another job field altogether. Though the most talented students will still follow through with their dream of becoming a doctor, there may be a shift in the health industry in terms of jobs needed. The bill not only shape the type of health care that the public receives, but also who and how doctor's can practice it.
When I read this article I was reminded of the illustration in the Matt Taibbi article that was passed around in class. The illustration of Obama as a surgeon, operating on what appears to be a bleeding patient is reflective of what many people believe to be a central issue with Obama’s healthcare reform bill. That is to say that Obama is acting as a doctor/surgeon when maybe he shouldn’t be. Many feel as though Obama has left out a group of people who are central to this issue: the doctors who deal with it everyday. The healthcare bill deals primary with the issue of getting everyone insured; but what about the insurance that the healthcare provided to everyone will be of top quality? What good does it do us to have every person receive healthcare if the healthcare they receive is low quality?
ReplyDeleteAnother valid issue that this article addressed was the fact that Obama’s healthcare plan changes the incentives for students to become doctors. Of course, those who truly love medicine will stick with the profession. I know many don’t agree with me, but I think that the paycuts and paperwork have a potential benefit. These things would mean that the people who truly cared about medicine and not about all the side benefits (like a high paying salary and the status) would be the ones who are our doctors. I also know that it would mean that these invested individuals would have their attention taken away from what is truly important – the patient. In any case, I agree with the article, Amealia and Jen when they say that the Doctor’s perspective is an important one and one that should be prominent in deciding on the parameters of the healthcare reform.