Slaves to Medicine: How to Ransom Your Healthcare From Power and Money
by: George Beauchamp, MD
Published by: Brown Books Publishing Group
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Reviewed by Steven King, MBA
Healthcare reform is a hot-button topic in America, particularly in an election year. The fact that 45 million Americans are without any type of medical coverage is proof that this industry is out of balance. Dr. George Beauchamp writes a compelling indictment against the current waste of a healthcare system that is out-of-control due to regulatory mechanisms. He proposes an investment-based system that eliminates regulatory waste.
Beauchamp believes there are two essential jobs in healthcare: to take care of patients or to take care of those who do. He proposes that what lacks in healthcare reform is the trust that is latent in the doctor-patient relationship. Third parties, who are largely motivated by economic and political gain, de-value human life to little more than a selfish profit center.
His proposals to fix healthcare smatter of a socialistic attempt to provide universal healthcare coverage. A naysayer would inquire, “…And where, Dr. Beauchamp, do we get the money to do this?” His answer would be that responsible living – which includes healthy eating, exercise, and preventative medicine – would generate enough dollars saved, that if properly invested, would pay for this type of system many times over.
The good doctor’s bottom line is ultimately correct: the burgeoning healthcare machine faces inevitable change. Gross excess and wanton abuse will not sustain itself indefinitely. The premise falls flat when it necessitates that Americans band together and “do the right thing.”
A brief look toward the failure of law enforcement to curb crime would serve as a fitting analogy against legislating a “be good and win” healthcare morality. How can Americans be compelled to suddenly act responsibly?
If you are worried about the future of healthcare, I recommend this work to you. It is a fitting read to aptly discuss the problems associated with healthcare reform. The book does not offer a plausible solution since it minimizes the lengths to which capitalistic enterprises allow for avarice and waste.
Armchair Interviews says: Informed Americans might want to read this.
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