A Draft Libre Published Content

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Death of the American Doctor

Document Number:	DRAFT-120011   [ .bib ]
Version:	0.1
Dated:	September 12, 2007
Group:	essays
Primary URL:	http://mohsen.banan.1.byname.net/DRAFT/120011
Federated Publications:	ByTopic -- ByContent
AccessPage Revision:	This AccessPage was produced on May 21, 2013 at 17:35 PDT (-0700)
Author(s):	Mohsen BANAN

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FULL INLINE DOCUMENT

Copyright © 2007, Mohsen BANAN

Permission is granted to make and distribute complete (not partial)

verbatim copies of this document provided that the copyright notice

and this permission notice are preserved on all copies.

Contents

List of Tables

1 About Mohsen Essays

This is one of Mohsen’s Essays. It reflects Mohsen’s thoughts without necessarily accepting the burden of proof or accepting the responsibility of persuasion. My essays are full of my opinions and thet reflect my perspective.

When I label something a Mohsen Essay it distinguishes from my scientific papers, industry white papers and such.

2 About This Particular Essay

This is part of a family of Essays. The top of this family of essays is: “How Capitalism Kills Professions”

In there I make the meta case for the conflict between what people do for money and their identity as a member of a profession.

Sisters to this essay are:

“Death of the American Journalist”

3 This Is Just A Draft

It reflects work in progress. It is not ready to be widely distrusted.

3.1 The Profession of Medicine is Dead in America

Medicine is amongst a few critical professions that are essential to health of the society.

Real understanding of failure of the profession of medicine in America, gives you a very good glimpse into the real character of the American people.

3.1.1 American Doctor: The Real Sicko

You have to be deaf, blind and dumb or you have to be American not to know that the American health care system is totally screwed up. Yet it was necessary for Michael Moore to make the case for Joe Sixpack through Sicko.

3.1.2 The American Doctor/Customer Relationship

By nature, the doctor/patient relationship is supposed to be very unique and very special. Raw American capitalism has turned that into business. Just for money, the American Doctor has been happy to become of tool of business. Forgoing the reputation of his profession, just in one or two generations.

The oath has become a joke. There is no more trust. There is no trusting the businessman.

It has come to this. My unfortunate interactions with the American doctor goes like this:

“Hello. I don’t know which is worse, getting sick or having to see you.”

“Bye. Nice doing business with you.”

3.1.3 Failure of the American Doctor

Despite being well educated and well paid, the American doctor put up no fight as his profession was being killed by the businessman.

There is plenty that the American Doctor could have done and can do. That it has not even done. I am yet to meet ONE American doctor who is willing to take responsibility for the collective profession of medicine.

The universal model is the only civilized model. The private (money rules) model is in direct conflict with the Hippocratic Oath. Who is to get the care when resources become limited? In America, not the one that needs it most. But the one with most money. Yet at no point did the American Doctor organized as a political force and took a position. The Insurance and bio-Med lobby have the politician and the American doctor in their pocket.

Plenty of foreign doctors have come to Mecca of Capitalism for money. They are perfectly happy being tools.

3.1.4 Anti-Patent and Medicine

The primary tool that the drug companies employ to maximize profit is the patent regime. Break that patent hold and you have a chance in lessening the influence of the capitalists.

3.1.5 Infant Mortality