Don't treat the unhealthy or elderly... ?

[ryum]

folger's coffee can it is then

[Phung Kuu]

Originally Posted by Bolehcim

Once you take it away for a "should have known better" reason, that opens it up for alot of interpertation... And abuse... And it's a great idea, until it happens to you, or someone you love.

The system is already being abused. Severe, expensively abuse.

Now all your examples are fine and well, if not just silly. They are not really on the radar.

We are talking about overeating, not exercising, not taking your medications(insulin), and smoking. Behaviors that even 5 year olds know are bad for you today. These people make up a bulk of those who use up the most of your healthcare tax dollars.

Substantial. They make up at least 90% of the ICU patient population that I treat. Obesity related. Non compliance related. And smoking related.

These are where REAL costs are being incurred to the healthcare system. ER visits as well. EMTALA has assured that.

Now, not for one instant am I advocating not treating people. That is for the socialist doctors in Britain, one of Michael Moores example of the right way to do healthcare btw, to discuss. I am stating that these people cost the system more than 1000s of other people in the system combined. And they should be held accountable for their actions.

The slippery slope has been the dissociation of personal responsibility from healthcare. "I don't have to pay, the system will pay" mentality is killing us, and is rampant. That has been the slippery slope, that we have slid down.

Making people responsible for their own bills, their own healthcare(which use to be the norm), will make people take care of their health, will make them stop overeating, will make them take their meds, will make them stop smoking. OR, or, they will be responsible for the rest of their lives(or after) in paying off their own bills.

[Phung Kuu]

Originally Posted by Phisti

Slight twist to the argument...

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/...thy-study.html

I don't buy it. But then I don't treat healthy people, and you don't pay me to treat healthy people.

I doubt the study took into fact related factors. At best the study is incomplete, for example how do the healthy people rack up huge medical bills with their condition of being healthy? The only thing I can think of is with prescription medications. And if that is it, that would be a joke.

They don't say in the article.