Here's An Idea: Let's Politicize Medicine!

Here's An Idea: Let's Politicize Medicine!  by John/Powerline

If you have government-controlled medicine, as the Democrats want to institute here, then every health care decision becomes political. Is that really what you want? The Telegraph reports on what inevitably will happen. The government uses its health care database to try to retain power:

Labour has been accused of using a Government database to target cancer victims with party political messages.


Personalised cards were sent to 250,000 women saying that the Tories would scrap a Labour guarantee that all suspected breast cancer patients would be seen by a specialist within two weeks of GP referral. ...


The cards ask specifically: "Are the Tories a change you can afford?" ...


They are part of a strategy which has so far seen 600,000 cards sent out. Some are aimed at parents whose children attend Sure Start centres. In all Labour is hoping to distribute 4.5 million of the cards during the election campaign.

Once your medical history is in a government database, and you are dependent on the government for any health care you receive, why would you think that the government wouldn't manipulate the information it has about you to try to influence your vote? It is frankly inconceivable to me that anyone could believe that reliance on the government for one's health care could possibly be a good idea.

UPDATE: Here is another down-side to politicizing medicine--political correctness rapidly replaces sound medical practice:

Muslim doctors and nurses are to be allowed to opt out of strict hygiene rules introduced by the NHS to restrict the spread of hospital superbugs.


Female staff who follow the Islamic faith will be allowed to cover their arms to preserve their modesty despite earlier guidance that all staff should be "bare below the elbow". ...


The Mail on Sunday reported the change had been made after female Muslims objected to being required to expose their arm below the elbow under guidance introduced by Alan Johnson when he was health secretary in 2007.


The rules were drawn up to reduce the number of patients who were falling ill, and even dying, from superbugs such as MRSA and Clostridium difficile. Revised guidance which relaxed the requirements for some religions was published last month.

"Revised guidance which relaxed the requirements for some religions..." That says it all. In any government medicine system, your health is the lowest priority.

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2010/04/026049.php