from Patch Adams MD, December 21, 2009
DEAR FRIENDS:
So our Government and our financial industries have decided not to take care of us US citizens and workers. So Congress, which has fabulous medical converage paid for by us citizens and workers, has allowed and encouraged ugly powers to corrupt the discussion on health care reform to the point that there is nothing left. Shame on them! How can these millionaires—whether they're political or corporate—know the suffering, fears, and anxieties of those who are not covered? I hear from them everyday. And from practitioners who have no recourse but to work in the current corrupted medical system. We can bail out banks and car manufacturers and thrive in two wars but NOT CARE for our people? The "economic stimulus"—sure, but what about the idea stimulus? the care stimulus? the justice stimulus? the love and kindness stimulus?—what about those??
The meaningless legislation being passed in Congress adds insult to injury by forcing yet more debt on so many—forcing us to seek health care (which we need) in the clutches of the health care insurance industry (which we do NOT need, and which is one of the fundamental sources of the problem). I WILL NOT DO IT.
There are still many issues never addressed in discussions on health care reform, such as: (1) burnout, (2) enough time with patients, (3) hierarchy of money and power-over in medical settings, (4) malpractice, (5) wellness, (6) palliative care, (7) social, educational, environmental health problems, (8) hegemony of pharmaceutical companies (9) cost of medical education, (10) complimentary care.
We think solutions should include (1) stimulating re-creation of old community hospital ideas with 21st-century form—and use them to help re-create community; (2) funding 1000 models that would create local facilities, but not consider them unless they cut 50% of the cost; (3) scattered comprehensive wellness centers; (4) Cuban-style medical schools where schooling is free for students who will go out and serve underserved communities (we like that these could be placed in big cities connected to the large dumping ground hospitals of that city).
Stand up. Do not let the discussion end here. The health care reforms we've seen so far are pathetic non-solutions, bent on discouraging us. Fight. There cannot be justice until all citizens are covered as a first step. Start action in your community; support the actions others are doing; learn more about what's happening; talk about it over holiday gatherings. We will not give up.
Patch Adams MD and the Team at the Gesundheit Institute