"Americans get too much healthcare" according to over half of doctors, interesting article, thoughts?

[caelin]

It is an interesting article, not entirely sure what to make of it, but I wanted lay political folk to turn it over.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/26/us-too-much-healthcare-idUSTRE78P5NN20110926?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews

The part I find most interesting is this

"So why would doctors order tests that they themselves believe are excessive?

Three reasons stood out in the survey, which is based on a random sample of U.S. doctors: fear of malpractice lawsuits, performance measures and too little time to just listen to patients."

1) seems like capping litigations would serve as best policy here,
2) perhaps a decentralization of the health industry would help prevent the boosting of personal scores over the health of the patient in regards to the performance measurement issue
3) to little time for patients is a hard one to curb, but over flooding doctors with more patients while at the same time curbing the supply of doctors by the rigorous requirements to be able to perform seems like it will cause some issues.

Anyways, what are your thoughts on this?

[varik]

The link doesn't work (only ads would load, go figure)

But I will say this ... doctors ARE NOT worried about malpractice they have insurance for that ... it is an excuse for the tests they order ... the want to get PAID for those tests. I have seen this in action. When we had private insurance my husband had his first 2 heart attacks... he was tested for everything under the sun and spent a week in the hospital each time. His third heart attack occurred under medicaid .... they ran 2-3 tests, adjusted his meds and sent him home the next day.

Anyone that has ever had both medicaid and private insurance at different times can give the same story.

As for the doctor "shortage" A big part of the problem is that they are paid so much they can easily retire early (don't give me that crap that they work so much harder either... they don't) They ALSO are very protective of their monopolies Proof of this is their vigorous refusal to allow nurse practitioners the ability to prescribe medicine even though they also get 8 years of school and a residency.

The doctor shortage is manufactured to keep their paychecks inflated.

[crosbey]

America's health situation is different compared to the rest of the world. Countries in Asia and Europe with working government health systems don't have the problems we do. Much of the health problems Americans suffer are self inflicted. Primarily when it comes to poor eating habits, lack of exercise, sleep, stress, etc. No amount of government involvement in health care is going to fix the root causes.

Doctors, like teachers can't do everything. Unfortunately, doctors and the people that are actually professionals in their fields don't call the shots in this country. Lawyers, lobbyists and politicians do. If doctors called the shots, they would say that our country has more resources and medical facilities than any country on Earth, Americans in general just have horrible health habits, leading to all this confusion. This has led to middlemen like lawyers and politicians taking advantage of the issue, forcing all these unnecessary tests and bureaucratic inefficiency that has driven costs.

Our inefficient health care system is one of many reasons this country should allow professionals in their fields to call the shots when it comes to policy making. I don't want lawyers, who's main purpose is moving money around to do those things.

[arber47]

What the #@@$ do they know abuot what I need???!?!?

Give me more health care, it's my basic human right. Stop opressing me.

[chavivi]

THAT will End when ObamaCare goes into effect.

The DEATH PANELS will Rule.