tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476621888383604834.post990571579668249544..comments2024-02-15T03:26:38.897-05:00Comments on Health Care Organizational Ethics: Crunch Time in Health Care ReformJim Sabinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03087828142188534542noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476621888383604834.post-74710771344813678822009-12-23T09:38:09.348-05:002009-12-23T09:38:09.348-05:00Dear Anonymous -
My understanding of what you'...Dear Anonymous -<br /><br />My understanding of what you're referring to is an amendment that was presented for up or down vote, but not for revision. In my view the legislative process we're seeing - much like the making of sausages - is ugly, but probably the best that could realistically be expected. Health reform has been an untouchable area for U.S. policy. In the context of "deliberation" all the actual debate has been within the Democratic party. The Republicans appear to have coalesced around the objective of defeating the Democrats, not seriously engaging with health issues. So closing an amendment to debate, was, in my view, a necessary evil.<br /><br />Any legislation can be revised or overturned in the future by the legislature. It's only the Constitution that has the kind of prohibition of change (except by the demanding process of amendment) that you fear has been attached to the health bill.<br /><br />Thank you for entering the discussion. And - happy New Year!<br /><br />Best<br /><br />JimJim Sabinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087828142188534542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476621888383604834.post-60650882699710656272009-12-22T21:24:11.445-05:002009-12-22T21:24:11.445-05:00While I can understand that passing the "impe...While I can understand that passing the "imperfect" bill and then "tinkering" with it may be better than status quo, I have a real problem with Reid's provision that parts of the bill cannot be repealed or otherwise changed for perpetuity. This is wrong on so many levels...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476621888383604834.post-43861556278170316342009-12-22T07:42:26.047-05:002009-12-22T07:42:26.047-05:00Hi Debra -
Thank you for sharing your passionatel...Hi Debra -<br /><br />Thank you for sharing your passionately held thoughts. I disagree with virtually everything you say about health care, but I appreciate your expressing yourself forcefully but civilly. We've had an absence of civility in our national dialogue, which has impeded the political process.<br /><br />I don't see any basis for concluding that "any federal government run health care is unconstitutional." Medicare, which is our most well received program, is government run health insurance. The Veterans Administration, which provides some of the best health care in the U.S., is government run care. I think the strongest argument against government involvement is made by those who invoke the effectiveness of market forces (even though I think these arguments are largely wrong).<br /><br />I actually see federal assurance that every citizen has access to good health care as a responsibility of the government. We were founded on the view that "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" are God given rights, and without access to effective care when we need it, all three are impeded.<br /><br />Again, thank you for your contribution to a discussion that we need to be having throughout the U.S. The capacity to debate and disagree in a civil manner is a foundation of democracy!<br /><br />Best<br /><br />JimJim Sabinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087828142188534542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476621888383604834.post-550669682937791932009-12-21T08:55:10.066-05:002009-12-21T08:55:10.066-05:00Dear Anonymous -
I'm glad the concept of &quo...Dear Anonymous -<br /><br />I'm glad the concept of "working through" and the comparison to "neurosis" made sense for you. People who work in the area of ethics are often frustrated when lucid argument doesn't change public attitudes or policy. 20+ years ago I asked Dan Callahan, who'se been a pioneer in medical ethics, about the apparent impotence of argument. He reminded me of how long it took to change attitudes and policies about civil rights and women's rights. That's what put me on to the comparison to the "working through" process in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis.<br /><br />Best<br /><br />JimJim Sabinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03087828142188534542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7476621888383604834.post-9756492363714446202009-12-20T19:56:15.723-05:002009-12-20T19:56:15.723-05:00Thank you so much for your wonderful post on healt...Thank you so much for your wonderful post on health care reform. An ethical dilema is similar to working through a neurosis. It is interesting to watch Howard Dean and others soften their stance on the Senate health care reform bill as the days go on. I am so fortunate to be living in this era.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com