A number of years ago, through a connection I made at a Rotary International meeting at the YMCA in Jerusalem, I spent hours interviewing the medical directors of three of Israel's largest health systems. When I finished these meetings, I felt as if I had delivered hours of psychotherapy to these individuals who were beseiged by the need to deliver life-saving health care through an irrational system, bounded and constrained by politics and religion rather than by scientific medicine.
In listening to President Obama's meeting today, I had that feeling again. It was clear that the parties on both side of the aisle understand the desperate straits that our health care system is in, but prefer to give precedence to irrational political (and personal) considerations in the guise of putting their constituents' needs first, rather than deal honestly with the issues. My bottom line is that all sides at the meeting were adequately informed as to our health system's prospects for a disasterous future, but that none is willing to abandon political strategy, and personal interest, to meet our country's and its citizens needs.
A good conference, Mr. President. But perhaps the next one should be led by an experienced psychoanalyst. Call me and I'll give you some names.
Showing posts with label Political Contributions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Political Contributions. Show all posts
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Ethics Are Even More Relevant Today
If we had agreement on political contribution ethical standards (i.e., $$$ flowing from AIG to major political figures), would there be an issue today concerning AIG's $180 million bonuses to those who wrecked their company and severely damaged the international economy?
If we had standards of ethical conduct for those doing business in the financial industry, such as Madoff and Stanford, would America be in a depression?
If we had standards of ethical employer conduct, would the SEIU be at war with the union representing its own workers?
If we develop enforceable consensus concerning the ethical framework for health care reform before plunging into unguided action, will we have a more efficient, better quality, more accessible and more democratic health care system which does not bankrupt the country?
What prevents us from a national discussion of health care ethics and use an ethical structure as the framework for health care reform?
If we had standards of ethical conduct for those doing business in the financial industry, such as Madoff and Stanford, would America be in a depression?
If we had standards of ethical employer conduct, would the SEIU be at war with the union representing its own workers?
If we develop enforceable consensus concerning the ethical framework for health care reform before plunging into unguided action, will we have a more efficient, better quality, more accessible and more democratic health care system which does not bankrupt the country?
What prevents us from a national discussion of health care ethics and use an ethical structure as the framework for health care reform?
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