What do doctors think about health care reform?

[zaphod2016]

Is health care a right?

Source

Is there a doctor in the house? What say you?

 

[Ausmerican]

Rights are whatever they are decided to be. Those Doctors in the red section are right, healthcare is not a right. At this time.
Does that mean it cannot be made a right? No.
Does that mean it shouldn't be a right? No.
If the poll said SHOULD healthcare be a right the results might be different.

 

[Upchurch]

If the poll said SHOULD healthcare be a right the results might be different.

More interestingly is whether doctors support health care reform.

Further, I'm not sure they're even correct. Hospitals can't legally turn critically sick/injured patients away. To that extent, a certain level of healthcare does appear to be a right.

 

[Galileo]

Is health care a right?

[qimg]http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?cht=p3&chd=t:13,87&chs=360x200&chl=Yes|No&chco=339933,FF3333[/qimg]

Source

Is there a doctor in the house? What say you?

Good post.

The two most important doctors in the United States; Dr. Ron Paul of Texas and Dr. Rand Paul of Kentucky, oppose this bogus plan as well.

 

[Ausmerican]

More interestingly is whether doctors support health care reform.

Further, I'm not sure they're even correct. Hospitals can't legally turn critically sick/injured patients away. To that extent, a certain level of healthcare does appear to be a right.

Good point.

Good post.

The two most important doctors in the United States; Dr. Ron Paul of Texas and Dr. Rand Paul of Kentucky, oppose this bogus plan as well.

"...two most important doctors.."
There are not enough laughing dogs.
Ladies and gentlemen, the comedic stylings of Galileo! Let's give him a hand, he's here all year!

 

[Upchurch]

Ladies and gentlemen, the comedic stylings of Galileo! Let's give him a hand, he's here all year!

I can't wait to here James Madison's opinions on the current health care reform debate.

 

[Ausmerican]

I can't wait to here James Madison's opinions on the current health care reform debate.

I might see if James Mason had anything to say. One dead, wise James is as good as another.

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

Is health care a right?

[qimg]http://chart.apis.google.com/chart?cht=p3&chd=t:13,87&chs=360x200&chl=Yes|No&chco=339933,FF3333[/qimg]

Source

Is there a doctor in the house? What say you?

I couldn't get the page to load (it timed out) to see the specifics of the poll cited that supposedly supports the pie chart.
ETA: I got it to load. There's nothing at all explaining the methodology for this poll. It looks like it might be an opt-in web-based poll that relies on participants self-identification (age, etc. and whether or not they're doctors). You too can register as a doctor and take the poll here: http://vanishingdoctors.com/register:

This site is for doctors only. To take the survey the first question asks if you are a doctor. If NO, then you are prohibited from going further.

I'm not impressed.

However, in a study that appeared in Annals of Internal Medicine, the majority of doctors were in favor of a national healthcare plan (single payer system). Linky. (This was published in March of 2008.)

I think you can get the sort of results you want depending on how the question is worded and what spin you put on the results.

 

[Professor Yaffle]

I think you can get the sort of results you want depending on how the question is worded and what spin you put on the results.

Indeed.

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

Also from the page cited in the OP:

Today is Thursday, January 14, 2010 and 55 doctors have completed our survey.

I would correct it thusly:

Today is Thursday, January 14, 2010 and 55 doctors people who answered "yes" to the question, "Are you a doctor?" have completed our survey.

And even that's stretching it. It could have been the same person filling out the survey 55 times.

I was wondering if they'd count a chiropractor as a doctor, but I see it's far worse than that. They counted anyone who says he or she is a doctor as a doctor.

ETA: And a sample size of 55 isn't impressive even if we knew there was some legitimate methodology in place to select a random sample of doctors, which there isn't.

 

[Shalamar]

Good post.

The two most important doctors in the United States; Dr. Ron Paul of Texas and Dr. Rand Paul of Kentucky, oppose this bogus plan as well.

And what are they Doctors of?

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

Good post.

So having read my posts, do you think the pie chart in the OP is supported by evidence?

 

[Vic Vega]

And what are they Doctors of?

Both are MDs. Both graduated from Duke Med School.

Rand is an Ophthalmologist.

 

[Shalamar]

Both are MDs. Both graduated from Duke Med School.

Rand is an Ophthalmologist.

Yeah. I picked that up. Now.. why are they the most important doctors in the country?

 

[r0ast_p0tat0es]

Funny. There aren't many lawyers who disagree with the notion that someone should be provided with an attorney if they can't afford one themselves.

But we're the bad guys...

 

[T.A.M.]

In Canada it is a right (or as close as you can get to it). I believe it is a right. I am willing to bet the majority would answer yes to the question "SHOULD health care be a right?"

TAM

 

[Upchurch]

Funny. There aren't many lawyers who disagree with the notion that someone should be provided with an attorney if they can't afford one themselves.

But we're the bad guys...

Wow, that earned an actual LOL. Well done.

Fair point, too.

 

[Magyar]

Funny. There aren't many lawyers who disagree with the notion that someone should be provided with an attorney if they can't afford one themselves.

But we're the bad guys...

I am SO putting that in my sig - with your permission

 

[JoeTheJuggler]

Just to remind people, the pie chart in the OP is not the result of anything even remotely resembling a scientific opinion poll of doctors.

It's the result of an opt-in internet poll where respondents answer the first question, "Are you a doctor?" with "yes".

 

[Upchurch]

Just to remind people, the pie chart in the OP is not the result of anything even remotely resembling a scientific opinion poll of doctors.

It's the result of an opt-in internet poll where respondents answer the first question, "Are you a doctor?" with "yes".

Oh my god. You're right. I took the poll and that is all it asked.


eta: no, that's not right. That's just the registration for voting.

The polling questions, however, are very bias and leading.

Is HealthCare a right?

Is current government intervention in HealthCare having an impact on the quality and/or level of care you can provide to patients?

If there is a government takeover of HealthCare will you encourage young people to enter the medical profession?

Do you currently accept Medicare/Medicaid patients?

If there is a government takeover of HealthCare will you continue working as a medical professional?

If there is a government takeover of Healthcare, and you continue to work in the medical profession, will you change your practice or employment such as switching to cash only compensation, concierge practice, or other significant change?

Will you accept Medicare/Medicaid patients in the future?