Opinion
Medicare should not be trusted to make medical decisions
LETTER — Posted July 16, 2007
Regarding "Medicare and Social Security can't be sustained as currently operated" (Letters, June 18): Physician opposition to the Medicare program 40 years ago, and the characterization of the program as a "failed experiment" are not viewed as fondly by most physicians as would appear from the letter by William D. Strinden, MD, of Lufkin, Texas.
Dr. Strinden's letter indicates that physicians have relinquished medical decision-making to patients and families who lack impartiality. But the proposition to instead trust the payers is unwise.
As a physician, I find it reprehensible to apply statistical analysis to deny patient benefits.
After all, this is what the for-profit insurers do, and is what we as physicians oppose.
The course of a medical treatment should be determined by physician analysis of the case.
Charles Rothberg, MD, Patchogue, N.Y.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/07/16/edlt0716.htm.
