The Tragedy of Health Care Reform in America

August 27, 2009
The Tragedy of Health Care Reform in America Today,
by Arn Specter, Phila. (Twitter/www.opednews.com)

Probably all of us "progressives" are feeling disappointed and upset about the failure of the Obama administration and Congress to take seriously Health Care Reform that would enable all Americans to have health care "free" or at a reasonable cost, managed either by the government or a cooperative serving the publics' true needs and interests.

Instead of a "Public Option" plan being at the forefront, or even in the running for victory, it is disappearing, almost gone completely, these days. The powers in the "health care" industries have so influenced Congress, the Administration and the Media - with more than 900 lobbyists and the HMO sector spending nearly $35 million in the first half of 2009, lobbying Congress , the White House and federal health care officers. (see, Healthcare insurers get upper hand, by Tom Hamburger and Kim Geiger, below)

Unless things change soon millions of Americans will remain without health care and possible severe hardships, including the loss of their health - and lives - and a good chance of facing bankruptcy due to the overburden of paying for their health care needs.

Once again, I dare to say, the American public has been sold out - down the drain so to speak - to a corrupt group of people, greedy and self-serving who have used their political and financial power and clout to win over a weak and feeble White House and Congress, others who have capitulated the common interests of the people for a vested interest in "their" programs and plans for continuing domination of the "health care industry".

Their agenda for "health care" has completely forgotten the Hippocratic Oath taken by doctors as a guideline for treating patients with respect and competency.

The Hippocratic Oath is an oath traditionally taken by doctors swearing to ethically practice medicine. It is widely believed to have been written by Hippocrates, the father of western medicine, in the 4th century BC, or by one of his students. Do no harm to patients is one of the principle tenants.

The doctors of the day, even made house calls, called house visits in order to treat the patient in their home resting as comfortably as possible. In case you never heard of a "house call" ask one of your grandparents, they might recall the phrase or an actual visit - in their time. see: Hippocratic Oath

“ I swear by Apollo, the healer, Asclepius, Hygieia,

and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my

judgment, the following Oath and agreement:

To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught

me this art; to live in common with him and, if

necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon

his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art.

I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients

according to my ability and my judgment and never do

harm to anyone.

I will not give a lethal drug to anyone if I am asked,

nor will I advise such a plan; and similarly I will not

give a woman a pessary to cause an abortion.

But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.

I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the

disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be

performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.

In every house where I come I will enter only for the

good of my patients, keeping myself far from all

intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially

from the pleasures of love with women or with men,

be they free or slaves.

All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of

my profession or in daily commerce with men, which

ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and

will never reveal.

If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and

practice my art, respected by all men and in all times;

but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be

my lot. "

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If we listen carefully to the discussions and arguments

in recent months we do hear concerns by many

physicians, nurses and others health care practitioners, about their concerns for the well being of their patients. Many have banded together and formed alliances advocating single-payer or a public-option plan.

However, listening to the administration, congress and

the health care industry administrators (and their paid proponents) we hear about costs; money; saving the government money; "bettering services to patients" ;

but, most of all, keeping the health care system in place, with only minor adjustments if really needed in order to pass legislation, when the time comes, that would ensure their regal positions and wealth in the traditional but greatly flawed American health care industry.

A tremendous amount of effort has been made by thousands of people around the country advocating a single-payer or public option plan. Still all these efforts to date seem to have fallen short in convincing the "powers that be" of those arguments for health care for everyone to be seriously 'on the table'.

Who knows what it will take to instill in the hearts and minds of the Obama administration and Congress that doing the honorable and best thing for the american people - whom they are sworn to serve- would be to make sure that everyone gets medical coverage in a reasonable and responsible way, as soon as possible - regardless of the admonitions of the lobbyists and spokespersons for United Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna, the insurance giants (as Spock might say)

Perhaps some extraordinary event will occur like in the movie, Network, when an amazing public pronouncement on live television was made by the news commentator, played by Peter Finch, when he shouted (after becoming enraged by the network management...)

""I'm mad as h---and I'm not gonna take it anymore..."

whereby thousand of viewers all over the country got up off their rumps, raced over to their windows, opened those windows and shouted out ,

"I'm mad as h--- and I'm not gonna take it anymore..."and more and more people people joined in and the media had a field day, making Finch a hero and empowering a large, passive audience , into direct action from their homes, in their neighborhoods...

Perhaps something will happen.

Arn Specter, Phila.

(on Twitter and www.opednews.com)

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Today I gleaned the following three articles on the

current development of health care reform in America.

1. Healthcare insurers get upper hand by Tom Hamburger and Kim Geiger, August 24, 2009, www.LaTimes.com

2. Public Option Dead / Killed by Greed, Fear and Apathy, by Allen L. Roland, August 27, 2009, www.opednews.com

3. Who's got a ticket to live? by Jerry Mazza,

August 28, 2009, www.OnlineJournal.com

includes important link to the Bill Moyers Show,

Critical Condition, recent program on Health Care.

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