Where Has All the Magic of Medicine Gone?

In God, we trust, all others bring data.

W. Edwards Deming (1900-1993), American Statistician

In insurers and government, we trust, all others bring cash.

Anonymous

March 13, 2012 – I recently visited with a 60 year old physician. I asked him, “What do you think about the future of medicine?” He replied, “The magic is all gone. Everything is homogenized, standardized, and commercialized. Medicine is just a business We have lost our soul. ”

This exchange reminded me of Pete Seeger’s classic song, Where Have All the Flowers Gone?

This is an updated version, adapted for medicine.

Where has all the magic gone?
Long time passing
Where has all the magic gone?
Long time ago
Where has all the magic gone?
Gone to bureaucrats and payers every one.
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the patients gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the patients gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the patients gone?
Gone to the Internet, every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the doctors gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the doctors gone?
Long time ago
Gone to hospitals and other jobs every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where has all the magic gone?
Long time passing
Where has all the magic gone
Gone the way of data and trust
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?


Tweet: The introduction of managed care and government data analyis into medicine has eroded trust between doctors and patients.