by Marilyn M. Singleton, M.D., J.D. The days of trusting your legislators to have your best interests at heart are in the rear view mirror. Apparently, their main interest is parroting the buzzwords of the moment to get elected and then being too busy banking lobbying money to listen to the voters. Our legislators have […]
By Elizabeth Lee Vliet, M.D. Free markets in medicine are not “broken;” they have not been allowed to work since 1944 when wartime federal policies began disturbing market forces. Federal control of prices and service delivery further expanded following the Medicare Act of 1965. In 2010, Obamacare crushed medical insurance plans, doctors, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, […]
by Jane M. Orient, M.D. Congress recently passed, and President Trump signed, the “Right to Try” bill that gives dying patients limited access to drugs that have not yet been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Our Founders would be astonished that we need such a bill. Nowhere does the U.S. Constitution give […]
By Jane D. Orient, M.D. A bill that would give doctors the right to defend themselves if brought before the state licensure board, the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners (LSBME), was heard in the Louisiana state House of Representatives on May 2. If it passes, doctors could find out exactly what they’re accused of, […]
υA “right to healthcare” is a seductive idea that many Americans accept without thinking. But we need to take a closer look at what this means. The total program being pushed by “right-to-healthcare” cheerleaders—primarily Democrats—is full of mandates. A mandate means you have NO right to opt out, except possibly through some limited exemptions. It […]
By Marilyn M Singer, M.D., J.D. In an entertainment venue called the “Escape Room,” participants are locked inside a themed adventure room, and they must figure out how to escape. Themes include prisons, KGB interrogation, and hostage situations. Perhaps a new theme could be ObamaCare. Despite a large majority of Americans reporting healthcare as their […]
By Marilyn M. Singleton, M.D., J.D. Some pundits blamed algorithmic trading for the stock market’s recent wild ride. “Algo-trading” relies on computers programmed to follow defined instructions for placing trades. For example, the computer buys 50 shares of stock when its 50-day moving average goes above the 200-day moving average. Period. Algo-trading was popularized as […]
Physicians have a legal and ethical duty to carryout a proper diagnostic evaluation of their patients, and only then recommend treatment.
By Alieta Eck, M.D. The Back Story Before 1990, American physicians who had completed three years or more of rigorous training in a specialty and passed an examination were awarded lifetime “board certification.” The only exception was the family practice board, which has always issued only time-limited certificates. After 1990, all member boards of the […]
By Dr. G. Keith Smith If you are following health-related topics on social media you have likely encountered “coverage is not care,” as a theme or #hashtag. This phrase/quip should be viewed as an opportunity and lens through which the dysfunction of the crony-dominated “healthcare system” in this country can be viewed. Not only is […]
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