It would be nice if there was a health care system that has several tiers, one of which that incentivizes folks who proactively take care of themselves, i.e. eat right, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy body weight/blood pressure, not smoke, not drink or do drugs, does yoga, meditation, etc., goes in for regular check ups and take steps to prevent health problems? It feels sometimes as if I'm penalized/have to subsidize folks who don't watch what they eat, are sedentary, stressed out, and do all the wrong things to their body, health, spirit and mind. Our society would benefit with more awareness (like Deepak said) and more personal responsibility. Right now, the only incentive is that you won't suffer so much later on in life because you've been taking care of yourself. Has this idea been considered and I missed it somehow? Maybe it would work, but capitalism won't like it.
yogadaisy: It would be nice if there was a health care
As usual, Dr. Chopra is on target. Let's hope we can get an "Health Care Education" campaign going, so that people can understand what Health Care Reform is covering in the first place.
I think the President should host a Health Care Summit and invite some prominent doctors, nurses and non-partisan policy folks to discuss and take questions on ACTUAL health care and describe how Insurance Company beaurocracy is limiting (ultimately) the delivery of this care, in addition to addressing issues of health in America. Members of Congress should be required to attend for an education session for themselves as well. This issue is entirely too important as literally life and death are at stake, not to mention the fiscal health of every citizen and business.
I nominate Dr. Chopra, Dr. Drew Pinsky, and Dr. Howard Dean to the summit panel...anyone have any suggestions?
myke3000: As usual, Dr. Chopra is on target. Let's hope we
As a resident of Canada, I would not trade my health care for any American system.
However, just to shed light on these so-called death panels, they do exist in Canada, however, they actually don't decide if someone is worthy of treatment or should be put to death. As Dr. Chopra pointed out, the US system (as well as Canadian) promotes unnecessary suffering.
These "panels", made up of hospital doctors (not bureaucrats) we have in Canadian hospitals decide if they will respect the wishes of family members to let the patient die without the needless suffering.
Unfortunately in many cases they do not support the "pre-mature" death of patients despite their wishes. Here is an article that sheds light on one of those situations:
Fortunately, the Netherlands has "euthanasia legislation".
But the best way to describe the end of life is what my dad told me a long time ago:
"He who knows how to live, also knows how to die". It's an old Indian (from India) saying, that is being passed on from one generation to the next.
Terminally ill people usually stop eating and die within a week or two.
jetscan: Fortunately, the Netherlands has "euthanasia legislation". But the best way
I think the President should host a Health Care Summit and invite some prominent doctors, nurses and non-partisan policy folks to discuss and take questions on ACTUAL health care and describe how Insurance Company beaurocracy is limiting (ultimately) the delivery of this care, in addition to addressing issues of health in America. Members of Congress should be required to attend for an education session for themselves as well. This issue is entirely too important as literally life and death are at stake, not to mention the fiscal health of every citizen and business.
I nominate Dr. Chopra, Dr. Drew Pinsky, and Dr. Howard Dean to the summit panel...anyone have any suggestions?
He has a knack for surrounding himself with the wrong people (Geithner, Summers to name a few) and doesn't have the courage to kick them out.
However, just to shed light on these so-called death panels, they do exist in Canada, however, they actually don't decide if someone is worthy of treatment or should be put to death. As Dr. Chopra pointed out, the US system (as well as Canadian) promotes unnecessary suffering.
These "panels", made up of hospital doctors (not bureaucrats) we have in Canadian hospitals decide if they will respect the wishes of family members to let the patient die without the needless suffering.
Unfortunately in many cases they do not support the "pre-mature" death of patients despite their wishes. Here is an article that sheds light on one of those situations:
http://topnews.us/content/24371-quebec-couple-sues-montreal-childrens-hospital
It's interesting to note that While American are debating basic heath care for the 40M uninsured, Canadians are starting to debate euthanasia (again).
http://www.nationalpost.com/m/story.html?id=1799575
But the best way to describe the end of life is what my dad told me a long time ago:
"He who knows how to live, also knows how to die". It's an old Indian (from India) saying, that is being passed on from one generation to the next.
Terminally ill people usually stop eating and die within a week or two.