A new study tells us that physicians order unnecessary tests and hospitalizations out of fear of malpractise lawsuits. Big deal .. what else is new? Everyone knows the medical system in the US is in a mess - due to a variety of reasons - be it high insurance rates, the tort system, and probably many more things than I'd ever understand. Its all a vicious circle and the causes can be seen by others as effects of some other cause itself. Insurance rates are high because costs are high and costs are high because insurance is ready to pay big bucks. What actually amuses (perhaps not the best word to use ) me is that in this kingdom of capitalism - where supply and demand as well as a free market are supposed to keep everything in balance, how the medical system in the US is spiralling out of the common man's control.
Posted by anya at July 29, 2005 12:02 AM | TrackBackTalk about exhorbitant costs... We spent an hour in the ER last month for my daughter's dislocated elbow. The doctor was with us for less than 5 minutes. There were no medicines used, no tests done and no procedures done. We received a bill for $650. Don't know for what. Thankfully, it is covered by insurance and we pay only $50.
Posted by: Parag at July 29, 2005 09:46 AMAgree. This sue happy nation is going to pay for it !
Posted by: Nupur at July 29, 2005 01:59 PMAnd every person above the age of 60 is prescribed 6-7 of the same medicines - Cholesterol reducers, BP medicines and so on - Even if they dont need it, just so that the doctor isnt sued if the patient unexpectedly dies of one of these diseases - An unholy alliance (?) between the insurance companies, lawyers and drug companies
Posted by: Ideamani at July 31, 2005 08:09 AMWhat goes around comes around...because of all those crazy people who go around suing anything at any chance they get, the innocent others have to pay for their misdeeds...
Posted by: Goan Pao at July 31, 2005 05:06 PM"Its all a vicious circle ... Insurance rates are high because costs are high and costs are high because insurance is ready to pay big bucks. What actually amuses (perhaps not the best word to use ) me is that in this kingdom of capitalism"
when you say this, are you sure it is capitalism. I feel insurance fits more into socialist and communist environment (everybody contributes because somebody else is losing.... applies to you too ;-)
what says ?
Posted by: Shekhar at August 2, 2005 12:58 PMShekhar: interesting point. just bcos everybody is contributing does not make it socialist. insurance itself is a competetive, unrestricted and profit making industry - thats what puts it in the capitalist section.
However, that is beside the point. The capitalist reference was not made to the health care industry (which is actually more or less capitalistic in the US) but the the US itself. The US is the kingdom of capitalism .. where such irony is being witnessed.