Obama chooses Ala doctor as next surgeon general

AP, Yahoo News ^ | 07/13/2009 | Lauran Neergaard

[freespirited]

According to Rush she thinks doctors shouldn’t make a profit.

Well that's ridiculous, but it sure sounds like she has a big heart and has helped a lot of people.

[jacknhoo]

Possibly...just possibly, Pope Benedict XVI recommended her to him. Regina M. Benjamin received the papal honor Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice from Pope Benedict XVI.

[Conscience of a Conservative]

thought so....

Thought what?

I know nothing of her views, but as some have noted, she seems to have a big heart and a very impressive background/career. Regarding what some have said about her opinions on doctors making profit, I think there's a big difference between believing (as a matter of personal belief/ethics/morality) that doctors should not seek profit, and believing (as a matter of policy) that the medical profession should be structured in such a way that doctors cannot seek profit. It seems as though she has lived her life according to the former (which is not problematic, and is certainly no reason to oppose her); it is yet to be seen whether she would, as Surgeon General, advocate for the latter (which would certainly be reason to oppose her)

[Islander7]

According to Rush she thinks doctors shouldn’t make a profit.

There are sound financial reasons to run a non-profit clinic in a rural area. MEDICARE and MEDICAID reimbursement is better, corporate structure is different, there are tax benefits, etc.

I did 25 years in health care. I've encountered many 'make money' physicians. They are mercenary, lack any real care for the patient, and are unpleasant individuals.

On the other hand, the not for profit clinic types have a closer relationship with their patient base and are generally better general physicians. There is a constellation of varieties between these extremes.

I'm very familiar with Bayou La Batre. It was flattened by Katrina as was my area. Many physicians abandoned these areas for financial reasons. The ones are still here are here for the right reasons.

I much prefer a physician who is interested in my health rather than a wallet biopsy each time I see them.

Rush also called her an environmental wacko. I haven't seen any evidence of that.

[bamahead]

Alabama ping.

[Osage Orange]

Actually.....IF, she is true to her beliefs. She WON'T take the job, and stay where she is and continue to help those that she has helped in the past.

Because S.G. is purely a figure head position.

My guess is she is a "Fellow Traveler" MarxistSocialistLiberalDemocrat...and will kiss Obama's ring...and help him attempt to force Socialist Medicine on ALL American's.

[Locomotive Breath]

And now who will take care of the needs in Bayou Le Batre?

[Islander7]

Excellent point!

[rightly_dividing]

Forrest Gump's doctor?

Bubba's doctor. Well, maybe, Gump did move to the Bayou after he was discharged, and start Bubba Gump Seafood Co.

There is much poverty in the Bayou, and not enough recovery from Katrina. You can still see trashed out homes in many places. There are people living in houses that were never re-conditioned afterward. Almost the entire economy there is based on shrimping, or the supply of or repair of shrimp boats. Also a multi-cultural town, about equally white, Vietnamese, Mexican, black. She probably is a good choice, if the politics of the Dims doesn't corrupt her.

I can't believe it, I actually agree with the 0 on something! Must schedule an appointment with the doctor, something must be wrong with me, maybe I've hit my head!

[Living Free in NH]

Will Zero change her title to Health Czar”?

[Bulwinkle]

hmmm...

“Benjamin is a board member of the Catholic Health Association of the US,”
http://www.aha.org/aha/press-release/2008/080407-pr-benjamin.html

[lonestar]

Ahhh besides placing warnings on cigarette packages, what does the surgeon general do.

The last black southern woman SG passed out defective condoms----BEFORE her nomination.

I just loved Joycelyn Elders! She was better for a good laugh than Joe Biden.

[lonestar]

I much prefer a physician who is interested in my health rather than a wallet biopsy each time I see them.

It's just a wild guess but I would assume that most people think like that.

I think drs deserve a good salary MORE than ambulance chasers and we don't have many lawyers working for minimum wage!

[green pastures]

No, but he will change the spelling to Czurgeon General...

[Islander7]

I think drs deserve a good salary MORE than ambulance chasers and we don’t have many lawyers working for minimum wage! .....”

Bingo! The John Edwards of the world are a huge problem for us all.

[lonestar]

Approx. 30 years ago, my uncle who was an anesthesiologist at Shriner's Burn Institute in Galveston, told me his malpractice insurance was 100K per year.

I was happy to see last week that the Shriners voted to re-open the Burn Center...that has been closed since hurricane Ike.

[clintonh8r]

I prefer a doctor who has a financial incentive to give me the best, most ethical care possible. If he's constantly chisled by government bureaucracy or insurance company limitations then he won't have as much of an incentive to give me that kind of care. As for pure altruism...I don't trust it because I don't believe in it.

[socialismisinsidious]

Socialized Medicine aka Universal Health Care PING LIST

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**This is a high volume ping list! (sign of the times)**

[clintonh8r]

She could be a role model for healthier Americans if she dropped a few pounds. After all. you wouldn’t pick an SG who smoked, would you?