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Health Care Moral Question
In 1993, at the time of President Clinton’s doomed health care reform proposal, the nation’s medical system made up 13.7% of its GDP and employed 11 million people. Nine years later, in 2002, health care spending exceeded $1.6 trillion, or $5,440 for each American, amounting to 14.9% of the nation’s GDP–compared to 9.7% in Germany and 9.5% in France (in 2001, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). Government projections in 2003 estimate that health spending will consume 17.7% of the GDP by 2012.
However, American life expectancy at birth ranks behind fifteen nations, all of which spend proportionately far less on health care. Infants die at a higher rate in America each year than in 21 other countries, …
Kearl´s Guide to Health Statistics
There are many reasons why health care is more ineffective and costs are higher in the US than elsewhere. Most of them have to do with market manipulations in favor of the health/insurance industries. A consequent policy would most probably allow for a general health insurance at lower total costs and with better total result. But even if applied, this would not answer the real questions.
- How much to spend for (expensive) emergency care vs. (cheap) longer term care?
- How much to spend to prolong a fulfilled life for three or maybe six month?
- Should a life be prolonged or shortened even against the will of a person? Who should take the decison?
In the western montheistic theological society people dodge these question, willfully ignoring that they do get answered in stealthy ways everyday in hospitals, nursing homes and home care without discussions and without majority sanctioned criterias. Will we ever answer them?
I am just back from a week in training in Ayurveda with Doctors, healers and Body workers from the US, Germany, Holland, Lettland, etc. and many interesting talks. I feel once more confirmed in own belief that our health care system itself is sick – and working only on the symptoms will in the end bring no improvement. There is a big change needed, not only in the US but also in most Western countries.
First, we need a definition of what health is. In allopathic medicine, health is still defined as the absence of illness. But what is health really? Health is more than just a smoothly running body, it is also emotional and mental and yes, also spiritual wellbeing. With this, I mean a feeling of connectedness and belonging that has nothing to with church or religion.
Before I continue, I want to mention that I am aware that not all physicians are part of what I am talking about below; however, because of this their work often becomes more difficult. In a training I did, I had to read to read ‘The politics of cancer’ by Samuel S. Epstein, a report for written for the US Congress, and another book ‘When healing becomes a crime’ by Kenny Asubel.** They confirmed what I have been suspecting; the medical establishment is a Mafia – very greedy and power hungry.
The first step I consider is to define health in a more holistic way. This would include the environment, because no doctor will be able to make us healthy if our environment is becoming poison for our health. Clean food, water and air are essential to health. Then there is the lifestyle – I do believe that countries that have basic safety nets are healthier, like social democraties. Unfortunately, most governments are trying to cut them down.
Then very essential something that teuton mentioned too – health education, but not just how the body works, but also how the human being is part of the planet and how every action has an effect on it, because of cumulation. Again and again I am amazed how little people know about their own body and how it works. They often know more about their car and also take better care of it than of their own body. If you do not know how your body works, how can you control and evaluate what your doctor tells and recommends you. Through knowledge we can become more responsible patients. I have learned over the years that each individual has much more control over his/her health than we believe. However, often people are not willing to make the changes necessary to stay balanced and healthy. It is easier to leave the decision to the doctor an pop some pills.
The allopathic medical establishment today is intimately connected with the big Pharma industries, which are trying world wide to control access to food and medicines. I do know that in the EU they now want to put herbs in the hands of doctors only, also vitamins should be sold by doctors only and not over the counter anymore etc., etc.. It is interesting that this medical mafia at first laughs at every alternative treatment. Then when they see that money can be made with it, it is declared dangerous and that it should be used by medical doctors only. I don’t have the study anymore, but a few years ago, the people in the US spend twice as much of their own pocket for health, than was spend by all health insurances together!!!
What can be done to change the system. Well, first of all we can make changes in our thinking and lifestyle – this is in the power of each person. Where as the change of the system is more difficult. But again, here too we can choose the health practitioners accordingly. Holistic medicine would never have become more acceptable if not a lot of people would have switched to it. So our personal choiches affect the whole. There is now in the US even a FDA? for research into holistic treatments. And then there is also the political part. Support politicians that support different medical approaches, and maybe for the environment the green party and so on.
I hope my comment makes some sense, as this is such a vast topic and there is so much more that could be said and done, but my time at present is limited. I know this sounds idealistical – but I think over time it is possible. Our health care systems might be able to run for a few more years on artifical life support, but than it will break down – that will be the change to bring basic change to it.
** Caution: reading these books might be hazardous to your bloodpressur and emotional balance.
Posted by: Fran | Aug 2 2004 12:27 utc | 14
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