Why do most Doctor’s Choose to Practice Medicine?
The practice of Medicine is a calling and privilege – it is the ultimate opportunity to help and care for others. This harmony was disrupted by the advent of health insurance and the proliferation of the third-payer system. The intrusion of health insurance providers and corporate hospitals affect the Doctors treatment paradigm, thus affecting the Doctors’ autonomy in treatment.
Managed care threatens to further diminish the Practice of Medicine to “defensive medicine” putting patient’s health at risk – Doctors as healers and providers of Patient Care has been reduced to “services rendered”.
The challenge of a Healthcare System based on Managed Care is choice and access to the most qualified doctor, best treatment, test or medication is at the mercy of Insurance Companies. In managed care setting there is an inability to utilise your choice of doctor, choice of treatment, lack of autonomy to implement appropriate tests and even the incapability to get the best medication, all because it may cost more for the Insurance company.
Managed Care goes against the very grain of the Pillars of both Bioethics & Hippocratic Oath itself. Though the oath is not legally binding and more of an ethical signpost it is an important reminder of what the practice of Medicine and the delivery of patient care should be;
“I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. Treat the ill to the best of one’s ability, to promote more-good than harm, to preserve a patient’s privacy, to teach the secrets of medicine to the next generation….”
Support anti-managed care legislation to stop US Managed Care from taking away clinical autonomy and patient choice. Write to your local Federal MP here
#sendtheeaglehome #noUSmanagedhealthcare #nomanagedcare #antimanagedcarelegislation