Local Doctors Take Stand Against Health Care Reform - WHNT

BlueRose wrote:

Yes something needs to be done but government healthcare is not the answer. Yes people die in Alabama every day...but how many people die every day in Canada because they were waiting in a long line for life saving treatments. If the government wants control how about they do something to help stop some of the health problems...cigarettes cause cancer and many health related issues yet this product is still on the market making lots of revenue for it's shareholders and lots of taxes going to the government. Why not take this harmful product off the market? 2. Make healthy food more affordable and available to more people. 3. the government could provide gyms that anyone could workout in to stay fit and healthy.
The bottom line is this problem isn't going to be solved over night.

People shouldn't take ANYTHING Away from others that is good or bad for them. Let the PEOPLE decide fore their SELF.THAT'S CALLED Living in America..THE LAND of THE FREE! All thou I do agree with You on #2 & #3...The Gov. Did have enough Money to share with THE BANKS why not do something "GOOD" for US REAL TAX Payers for so called FREE like Your #2 & #3.

DrMD wrote:

@mdfamily, I agree. The entitlement mentality these days is amazing. Do these people expect to be paid when they work? Sure they do! How much do they think 27 years of education costs? How much do they think office space is? How much do they think our staff is? How much do they think malpractice insurance costs? All that has to be paid BEFORE a physician can take their salary and often what's left is less than what a mechanic makes an hour! Oh, and by the way, we also often work the equivalent, in hours, of two or three full-time jobs!

You picked THAT job. Some Doctor's don't have a FULL OFFICE of HELP. They EVEN CLEAN the TOILET'S them SELF! And TAKE GREAT CARE of THE SICK! Malpractice Ins. wouldn't have started if the BAD DOCTORS where GONE (just in it 4 the Money!)

I find it interesting that Dr. Fanning's "main concern" is the Doctor/Patient relationship. I would like to know in EXACTLY what way a patient with PUBLIC insurance and a patient with Blue Cross insurance would have a different relationship with him? How in the world does Blue Cross Blue Shield not interfere with the Doctor/Patient relationship? Dr. Fanning may be an advocate for his patients, but I bet 90% of his patients have Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance. What about those who don't? Or what about those, like me, who have it but want another, more affordable option?

What Congress is proposing is a public OPTION, not a public mandate.

Why do many of the comments to this article say "if you don't like it go somewhere else"? That is ridiculous, childish and absurd. How about: "if you don't like it, find a better solution and present it to the public". I feel so sorry for people who get so absolutely angry about progress.

How about we have a public option because it's the right thing to do?

I don't like paying an INSURANCE COMPANY (I don't pay my doctor this much)$975 per month for my family of 3. But guess what? I have to because that is my only option. I can afford it. My household income is in the top 5% of Americans (I encourage you to research what the wealth distribution is in this great country). But I realize that to the majority of families in this state and in this country,$975 means sacrificing something important: food, clothing, a home, time with loved ones, etc. It is unfair and reprehensibile that I pay the same thing for insurance as someone who makes a tenth of what my family makes. The destitute among us have Medicaid. But what about the hard-working middle class families?

A public option is the right thing to do. If insurance companies can make BILLIONS of dollars in profits every year, how is the governement going to go BILLIONS of dollars in debt?

It is sad to hear a colleague who is so disillusioned that he discourages others who are interested in becoming a physician. He says he is concerned about the patient ....really? How so? The US ranks 37th in the world in healthcare yet 50% of the money spent on healthcare is spent in the USA. I wonder if the good doctor would protest the million dollar salaries of insurance execs, pharmaceutical execs and medical subspecialist? How about the uninsured, waste, patient safety and population health. Protesting universal coverage for all Americans is wrong headed and misguided. Huntsville has high per capita cost per person and mortality that significantly exceeds the national average. The systems leads to the rich getting richer not quality care, something we all deserve and something we cab deliver. There is no plan for government run health care or socialized medicine. The plan is for affordable, quality, assessible, equitable care for all US citizens. R Wyatt MD MHA

yes it is called a public option but it will begin to compete with private insurance companys and what motivation will employers have to continue to offer healthcare packages to their employees?

I am a democrat...and I oppose this propsal. I have only had the time to read half of it and it took two days just for that. It is about so much more than our rights to health care. There will be waiting lists like many of us have never seen.
Health Care is not a human right! It is a luxury that i choose to pay for before i buy my beer and dvd's. I don't expect the farmers to give me free food or the utilities to give me free electricity. Why would i expect free health care?

BlueRose wrote:

yes it is called a public option but it will begin to compete with private insurance companys and what motivation will employers have to continue to offer healthcare packages to their employees?

why shouldn't commercial insurers compete. If they are compeititive there is nothing to fear. I never mentioned a public option but if there is a public option and I can get the same coverage as a congressman for a lower premium what is the down side? All the big mule insurers should compete and innovate. They are the ones who interfere with the patient-physician relationship by rationing care and making choices that should be left to the patient and provider with emphasis in evidenced based medical practice not insurance company dictated disease management. If the current system was so good why are we 37th in the world with millions left uninsured? We need just health not just enough .

DrMD wrote:

@mdfamily, I agree. The entitlement mentality these days is amazing. Do these people expect to be paid when they work? Sure they do! How much do they think 27 years of education costs? How much do they think office space is? How much do they think our staff is? How much do they think malpractice insurance costs? All that has to be paid BEFORE a physician can take their salary and often what's left is less than what a mechanic makes an hour! Oh, and by the way, we also often work the equivalent, in hours, of two or three full-time jobs!

Most people responding are completely clueless regarding the operating expenses of a medical office. And, even less appreciation of the years of schooling to attain your MD. If this bill passes, the Doctors the government will hire will be cheap labor types, 3rd World MD's who would NEVER get into or even graduate from an American College of Medicine.

*quote from post #21*"You picked THAT job. Some Doctor's don't have a FULL OFFICE of HELP. They EVEN CLEAN the TOILET'S them SELF! And TAKE GREAT CARE of THE SICK! Malpractice Ins. wouldn't have started if the BAD DOCTORS where GONE (just in it 4 the Money!)"

Personally, I have never seen a doctor that thought he/she need no help. I also do not think I would want a doctor cleaning the toilets then coming to examine me, yuck! Malpractice insurance has to be paid, not because there are bad doctors, but because of the "I am going to sue you with and extravagant lawsuit" mentality. The same people who have this mentality are often the same people who think they should get something for nothing. I do not see any profession getting dogged for being greedy like people are talking about doctors. Doctors work hard. They spend a lot of time in school, many hours in practice and rarely get a thanks for their hard work.

mrsevmeg wrote:

*quote from post #21*"You picked THAT job. Some Doctor's don't have a FULL OFFICE of HELP. They EVEN CLEAN the TOILET'S them SELF! And TAKE GREAT CARE of THE SICK! Malpractice Ins. wouldn't have started if the BAD DOCTORS where GONE (just in it 4 the Money!)"
Personally, I have never seen a doctor that thought he/she need no help. I also do not think I would want a doctor cleaning the toilets then coming to examine me, yuck! Malpractice insurance has to be paid, not because there are bad doctors, but because of the "I am going to sue you with and extravagant lawsuit" mentality. The same people who have this mentality are often the same people who think they should get something for nothing. I do not see any profession getting dogged for being greedy like people are talking about doctors. Doctors work hard. They spend a lot of time in school, many hours in practice and rarely get a thanks for their hard work.

Old Days & Now He/She might think they need Help then did without and made it just fine...Know/knew some.It is Up to the Patient 2 THANK the Doc. and a Co Worker (other Doc) that may see a GREAT JOB DONE. Sorry to inform you that Doctors & Nurses DO USE the Bathroom number ONE & TWO! are is that...yuck too? Some wash hands others may not. Cleaning them self & cleaning the Toilet is a JOB. They Study Hard, for a Job they know will be Hard and hope to HELP People Heal.Some just do it fore the money so sad. They Pay Off the LOANS & the Office Bills (cheaper if they Clean :-) Life is HARD being a Doctor so is a LOT of OTHER JOBS like the Military Little PAY for the Hell they go through. Here is Your Profession that get's being Dogged & Greedy EVERY Min. of every day...A Politician where have you been? "Thank You Doctors that Do Care & Spend Time with a Patients... with CLEAN HANDS" I THANK Mine DO YOU?

Twentyfour seven, I am not sure I fully understand everything you said but i will try to respond. Yes, I thank my doctor. As a matter of fact my whole family does. My six year old recently commented that his pediatrician is a good doctor. I quickly e-mailed his nurse to tell her. I know that doctors USE the bathroom, but there is a big difference in USING and CLEANING. We are in agreement that doctors study hard, for a profession that is hard. Unfortunately, most of them do have to take out student loans. That is one reason that so many doctors work so much overtime. I agree that many jobs do not pay what they deserve-military, firefighters, police, to name a few. Are you calling me a politician? I am not. I am a housewife. Politicians are the ones who are wanting to cut/cap doctors' salaries, while they keep increasing their own. Doctors do not get to do world traveling that is paid for by taxpayers.

Beach wrote:

Dr. Fanning - my family and friends are behind you 100% If the government takes over health care what will they be after next - our souls?

i totally agree with you! if this bill gets passed(of course it will) it will only be the beginning of the nightmare, are people so ignorant to fall for this?! They want gov't owned EVERYTHING, this country, or whole world really ,has gone to pot and it terrifies me.

The problem everyone seems to have with health care is not the care, it's the cost. Well, maybe we should try to make it cheaper and easier to get rather than letting the government ruin it (like they do with just about every program they get involved with). How about tort reform to help reduce malpractice insurance? How about allowing ordinary citizens to buy health insurance across state lines. How about being able to choose to buy health insurance that only covers catastrophic illness. How about we cut the ties between the health insurance we buy and our employer? Make it portable just like our home owners insurance and auto insurance (our employer doesn't buy those for us - do they?) If the government gets involved with this, they will take more control over us, leave us with fewer (or no) options, the wait to get to see a doctor or get a treatment will increase and the cost will go up. Oh, and we're going to have a doctor shortage like you've never seen.

This bill is so unpopular that the Dems are bribing blue dogs with cash in order to buy their votes.

If you think that the "gummint" is going to give you free (or cheap) health care GET IN LINE. That's right, you will need to get in line for limited resources that will ultimately need to be rationed...and it will cost more in the long run because it will be as expensive and ineffecient as Medicare. All one needs to do is look at the $55 billion in waste just this year.

We need to fix this problem. But it must include tort reform and competition between the insurance companies across state lines.

Renee wrote:

My husband and I have no insurance and he is the only one working--wonder if Dr. Fanning would be willing to see and treat us and provide any meds at a rate we can afford. Cobra wanted $800 a MONTH for insurance for 2 of us. We could afford to have a roof over our head and eat or we could get insurance. Our rent is only $465.
Somehow I do not think Dr. Fanning would even let us in his door!

Of the amount of people that remain uninsured, the government could pay the premiums just for them if needed, but this healthcare bill does not cover all (19 million of the 37 million uninsured, remain uninsured), so how can we in all honesty support a bill that is meant to control the populous and hurts not helps them. I am sick of taxation without representation and the majority of people do NOT want THIS bill.

Twentyfour Seven wrote:

<quoted text>
Old Days & Now He/She might think they need Help then did without and made it just fine...Know/knew some.It is Up to the Patient 2 THANK the Doc. and a Co Worker (other Doc) that may see a GREAT JOB DONE. Sorry to inform you that Doctors & Nurses DO USE the Bathroom number ONE & TWO! are is that...yuck too? Some wash hands others may not. Cleaning them self & cleaning the Toilet is a JOB. They Study Hard, for a Job they know will be Hard and hope to HELP People Heal.Some just do it fore the money so sad. They Pay Off the LOANS & the Office Bills (cheaper if they Clean :-) Life is HARD being a Doctor so is a LOT of OTHER JOBS like the Military Little PAY for the Hell they go through. Here is Your Profession that get's being Dogged & Greedy EVERY Min. of every day...A Politician where have you been? "Thank You Doctors that Do Care & Spend Time with a Patients... with CLEAN HANDS" I THANK Mine DO YOU?

Let us not forget the nurses, the largest portion of healthcare. They are already down in numbers and are being worked to death for a very small amount of money. We are the ones who deliver the care, the doctors are the ones who determines the problems. I believe it is time for doctors and nurses to stand together to stop this bill.

You know what I really find hard to swallow? Most of the people fighting agianst this already have health care,and they act as if nobody else is important.My Brother is HIV positive has been for the last 8yrs,can not get health care anywhere.Last month I had to take him to the hospital because he had a very bad cold I was scared throught it was swine flu [Which would have been very bad for him],and I have 2 kids I was worried about gettin sick.The bills I got are over 2,000 dollars which I cant afford with rent,utilities food and the holidays here.All these test they did the blood work is very costly.I work a 9 to 5 just like everybody else.I am not looking for a free ride off somebody,s else back.I just want my brother to be able to be seen by a doctor without it comming out of my pocket.So I hope this bill passes and I wish people would stop thinking I,m looking to take from them.I have insurance an my kids are on my husbands plan.I couldnt even add my brother to my plan because he has HIV.So people its hard.

Kim I dont feel sorry for you its you choice to take on this extra burden on yourself,so please stop cryin about it.I dont want to have to pay for you sick brothers treatment,an your poor choices that he made.And if the bill is passed then your brother will be riding my back I,ll get taxed to hell while he gets a free ride.I say to you put his sick as$ in a nursing home an be done with it.And your only worried about your childern getting the flu you live in the home with a person with HIV an your not considering if he cuts himself an infect your kid.Men with HIV/AIDS are mostly gay and they created their own troubles so hell no I,m not willing to pay.Another thing Your brother is a big risk to insure because of his illness.Thats why they refuse him.Agian nursing home or his boyfriends house.

Kim wrote:

You know what I really find hard to swallow? Most of the people fighting agianst this already have health care,and they act as if nobody else is important.My Brother is HIV positive has been for the last 8yrs,can not get health care anywhere.Last month I had to take him to the hospital because he had a very bad cold I was scared throught it was swine flu [Which would have been very bad for him],and I have 2 kids I was worried about gettin sick.The bills I got are over 2,000 dollars which I cant afford with rent,utilities food and the holidays here.All these test they did the blood work is very costly.I work a 9 to 5 just like everybody else.I am not looking for a free ride off somebody,s else back.I just want my brother to be able to be seen by a doctor without it comming out of my pocket.So I hope this bill passes and I wish people would stop thinking I,m looking to take from them.I have insurance an my kids are on my husbands plan.I couldnt even add my brother to my plan because he has HIV.So people its hard.

Madison County Heath Dept or the Free Clinic....has he been there?