Friday, April 13, 2012


Attitude and Gratitude: I am Proud to be an American Physician
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.

Winston Churchill

April 13, 2012 -  The following article of mine appeared  in the April issue of Connecticut Medicine, the journal of the Connecticut State  Medical Society,
Yesterday The Doctors Company, the nation’s largest physician-owned malpractice company, issued a press release. The press release headline blared, “Nine of 10 Physicians Unwilling to Recommend Health Care as a Profession, Exacerbating Anticipated Physician Shortage."Company has conducted a physician survey: 5000 doctors responded. Nine of 19 were unwilling to recommend medicine as a profession, and 43% said they planned to retired within 5 years.

Physicians are in a bad mood. Bad moods can be contagious. They can make one downright paranoid. And as author William S. Burroughs said, “Sometimes paranoia’s just having all the facts.” The facts are these: There is unlikely to be a SGR fix, at least not in this Presidential term; There will be no Medicare rise, more likely cuts, in fees over the next 10 years. There will be no national tort reform. There is little chance market-based incentives - Health Savings Accounts, tax credits for all, shopping across state lines- will be introduced under the current administration.
It’s enough to put one in a bad mood, But as my Episcopal Priest son once told me, “Dad when you’re feeling bad, make yourself a gratitude list.
I am grateful I live in a country where,

• People can disagree disagreeably about the health reform law, but without riots, strikes, or violence.

• Voters can feel free to express their opinions about the health reform law – 53% favor repeal, 38% want it strengthened or left as it.- and 76% think the individual mandate is unconstitutional, while 19% deem it constitutional.

• The Gallup poll indicates 82% of people are satisfied with their health care. That's not 100%, but it is impressive.

• Few citizens choose to go abroad to seek better care.

• Every citizen who goes to an emergency room will be treated no matter what his or her financial circumstances.

• No matter where you live in the U.S., most citizens have quick or immediate access to the best medicine and technologies has to offer without government oversight, second guessing, or rationing. This is not true in most other countries.

• We provide such exceptional care that kings and potentates come here for treatment (The King of Saudia Arabia is now at Cornell to get a herniated disc fixed), and doctors come here from around the world to learn, to train, to practice, and to benefit from our research.

• We listen to the voices of the people when the majority protest a sweeping health reform law they fear will cost them their current coverage and access to doctors.

• We cover 110 million of our 310 million citizens through costly Medicare and Medicaid programs and pay for ½ of all health care costs, an expense per capita above that of other nations.

• Our political system allows us to engage in a lengthy, sometimes acrimonious debate, on what is the right thing to do in the long run to provide the best care for most of the people most of the time.

• As a country, we believe in individualism and choice, in government care as well as private care, in the independence of physicians to choose their specialty, where they want to live, and to provide care they think is best for patients based on individual human judgment rather than bureaucratic rules .

• We are a society that prides itself in our generosity to help others around the world , in our innovations that make us the Internet crossroads of health information of the world, the fountainhead of many advanced medical technologies- in genomics, cancer therapy, life-saving and life-style restoring procedures, our imaging technologies; and in vibrant entrepreneurialism in multiple health care spheres, a spin-off of free markets in a capitalistic society.

I am proud to be an American physician, living in America.




23 comments:

Anonymous said...

Terrific work! This is the type of info that are supposed
to be shared around the internet. Shame on the search engines for now not positioning this
post higher! Come on over and consult with my web site .
Thank you =)

Here is my blog low carb soups

Anonymous said...

Hey! I'm at work surfing around your blog from my new iphone 3gs! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Keep up the great work!

Here is my weblog :: Ernährung ohne Weizen

Anonymous said...

It's actually a cool and helpful piece of info. I am satisfied that you just shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.

Have a look at my webpage ... schnell und sicher abnehmen
Also see my web page: Steinzeitdiät

Anonymous said...

I always spent my half an hour to read this blog's articles everyday along with a cup of coffee.

My weblog: low carb frühstücksideen

Anonymous said...

I'm not sure the place you're getting your information, however great topic.
I must spend a while learning much more or understanding more.
Thank you for wonderful information I was on the lookout for this information for my mission.


Here is my web site Finanzberatung Wiesbaden

Anonymous said...

When someone writes an paragraph he/she maintains
the plan of a user in his/her brain that how a user can
know it. Thus that's why this piece of writing is outstdanding. Thanks!

Review my web page - glyx rezepte

Anonymous said...

This design is steller! You obviously know how to keep a
reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost.
..HaHa!) Wonderful job. I really loved what you had to say, and more
than that, how you presented it. Too cool!

My website: wordpress site

Anonymous said...

This design is steller! You obviously know how to keep a reader amused.
Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost.
..HaHa!) Wonderful job. I really loved what you had to say, and more than that,
how you presented it. Too cool!

Feel free to visit my blog: wordpress site
Also see my page: wordpress eshop

Anonymous said...

Saved as a favorite, I like your site!

Feel free to visit my webpage :: ernährung

Anonymous said...

Awesome! Its genuinely awesome paragraph, I have got much clear idea about
from this post.

Feel free to surf to my weblog: beste Thai Massage Wiesbaden

Anonymous said...

Hi there to all, it's genuinely a nice for me to visit this web page, it consists of important Information.

Feel free to visit my web blog; steinzeitdiät

Anonymous said...

I have been surfing online more than three hours today, yet I never found any
interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me.
In my view, if all website owners and bloggers made
good content as you did, the net will be a lot more
useful than ever before.

Also visit my site :: Tai Massage

Anonymous said...

Thanks very nice blog!

Here is my page :: low carb backen

Anonymous said...

Pretty part of content. I simply stumbled upon your web site and in
accession capital to say that I get in fact loved account your weblog posts.
Anyway I'll be subscribing for your augment and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.

Check out my web blog ... Retha Alvin
My web site > Paulina Florian

Anonymous said...

It's in point of fact a great and helpful piece of info. I am glad that you shared this helpful information with us. Please stay us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.

Also visit my web blog: Mariana Ben

Anonymous said...

Normally I don't learn article on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very pressured me to check out and do it! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thanks, quite great article.

My site reis paleo

Anonymous said...

Keep this going please, great job!

Here is my blog post ... welche größe lenkmatte
My site: lenkdrachen 4 leiner anleitung

Anonymous said...

You made some decent points there. I checked on the net for additional information about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on
this web site.

Look at my website; Finanzberatung Mainz

Anonymous said...

Hello there I am so delighted I found your blog page,
I really found you by accident, while I was looking on Yahoo for something
else, Anyhow I am here now and would just like to say kudos for a remarkable post and a all round interesting blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time
to read through it all at the minute but I have saved it and also included your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the
excellent jo.

my weblog - paleo frühstück rezept

Anonymous said...

Thanks a lot for sharing this with all folks you really understand what you're talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly additionally discuss with my website =). We can have a hyperlink trade arrangement between us

Check out my homepage ... Anh Leora
my site > Russ Jake

Anonymous said...

Hello there! I just wish to offer you a big thumbs up for your excellent information you
have got here on this post. I will be coming back to your site for more soon.


Also visit my blog learn wine tasting
My web site - plastic wine glasses

Anonymous said...

It's hard to find experienced people about this topic, but you sound like you know what you're talking
about! Thanks

my web blog :: Winston Kristi

Anonymous said...

hey there and thank you for your information – I have definitely picked up
something new from right here. I did however expertise several technical issues using this
web site, as I experienced to reload the site
a lot of times previous to I could get it to load correctly.
I had been wondering if your web hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but sluggish loading
instances times will very frequently affect your placement in google and could damage your high quality score if ads and marketing with Adwords.
Well I'm adding this RSS to my email and can look out for much more of your respective interesting content. Ensure that you update this again soon.

Feel free to surf to my site :: Mac Kirby