“I guess you were asleep during his “unnecessary tonsillectomies and amputations” canard.”
Yes, my usual reaction when Obama appears is to fall asleep immediately. Purely defensive. If I actually listen to him, I usually have to make a quick run to the toilet.
“You are, of course, completely ignoring the point about doctors’ being forced to practice defensive medicine because of the ambulance chasers.”
No, I’m just trying to make a different point, which is totally ignored. Sure, some of our excessive treatments are a result of real fears doctors have of being sued in a medical malpractice suit, but the fact that they make more money the more treatment they order also comes into play. For instance, many orthopedists in my hometown have their own physical therapy clinics and MRI and CAT scan machines. And outside physical therapy clinics pay a “doctor supervision” fee to the referring doctor for each treatment that his patient receives. A more polite way of saying a “kickback.” We know that people in all walks of life are susceptible to having their behavior changed by giving them extra money. Why do you think doctors are different?
Sarah Palin was making the same point, that doctors would be susceptible to the extra fee for end of life counseling and would thereby recommend it to their patients. Are you disagreeing with her?
So what? Sounds like a good business decision to me. They've got to make those huge malpractice insurance premiums anyway, so they increase their bottom line by performing services they'd otherwise farm out.
And outside physical therapy clinics pay a “doctor supervision” fee to the referring doctor for each treatment that his patient receives. A more polite way of saying a “kickback.”
Ooh, how scary. A doctor is actually paid to monitor the physical therapy. You'd probably do it for nothing, right?
Are you disagreeing with her?
I'm not an Obamabot, so naturally that doesn't stop me in my tracks. I admire Sarah, but I don't worship and adore her every utterance.