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I'm an emergency room physician in Stayton, Oregon. Last shift I worked I had three patients who are insulin-dependent diabetics, lost their jobs, have no health insurance, can't get a physician to see them, and can't afford their meds (their average meds were over $500/month). What am I supposed to do for them? OK, here's your insulin for today, good luck tomorrow! This should not happen in America.

 After the third one, my nurse, a good friend and compassionate liberal democrat, and I were discussing this mess and she said, "I think Obama will fix this -- just so it's not socialized medicine!" Somehow that term has become an evil thing, despite the fact that private medicine has done such a horrible job of providing health in this country. In "socialized medicine", the 30% of health care costs that currently are going to stock holders of insurance companies would go to owners of the socialized insurance company -- the u.s. citizens. Health insurance should not be tied to employment. Thanks for exploring the history of that development, which makes no sense at all. Jeanne Fitzpatrick, M.D.503-391-4230  

posted 3 years, 9 months ago
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