Bill's Rants

Over the years Bill would read an article on _________________ and then spend then next ________ months/years talking about it to whomever would listen. 

Sometimes it was the lifespan of a car. Sometimes it was about vodka production.  Then there was the differences between left-brain and right brain.  Of course...there was tennis.  And on and on. 

However, one rant lasted longer than others -- and that was his view of the US medical establishment.    Bill was no trained doctor, but he was well read and had studies that intersected with the medical field. 

For example, Bill's college job was night duty at a veterinarian's hospital.  If you can believe him, he sterilized a few dogs/cats.  Then there was his degree in public health.  His WHO positions all centered around sanitary engineering - helping developing nations with their water and waste water treatment.   While in Korea he studied acupuncture....although no family member was willing to volunteer for his services. 

Mostly Bill read. He read a lot.   Atul Guande is his favorite medical journalist and author.  As a matter of fact, had I just followed Atul Guande's advice on caring for the elderly, I'm sure my father would have suffered less in the end.   This isn't to say that the medical staff that cared for him were negligent in any way.  As a matter of fact, I have only admiration for their care of the elderly.  My father was no bargain patient.  Reason doesn't stick with dementia patients...so explaining to Bill that he shouldn't pull out his ________ (catheter, heart rate monitor, feeding tube, IV, etc.) only works for about 1 minute.  

Anyway...because Bill ranted for so long about the US medical establishment, I've included a few of his email excerpts on the subject.

December 2009, email to Robbi Whipp:

Note: I am having serious problems with our local "medical services". Lack of insurance isn't the problem, our national medical services are awful. Half the service for twice the price! Its simply outrageous that we have a discussion about it.

Well, I hope you read the NYer. and specifically Atul Guande, their medical services writer. He is a noted heart surgeon, and runs the Boston Teaching Hospital. Evidently he has taken on the job of being an irritant about our medical services, e.g., McAllen Texas, and reform.

August 2010, email to Noel:

Noel, this week's NYer has longish article by Atul Guande "Letting Go". It is required reading. Certainly it is for you.

It is interesting that the NYer has recognized Dr. Guande's special interest in American medicine. They now have found a second MD/writer who covers different aspects of our medical systems and services.

October 2010, email to Noel -- shortly after a visit to a neurologist where Bill was diagnosed with dementia..

I had asked you what she had said some time ago. And you tried to say something, it was obvious that it didn't mean much to you. And now I realize that the lady was con artist and didn't give anyone any sort of a diagnosis. She was a good example of bad medicine. Hope you have learned something from this episode.

The challenge is for us to figure out what we should do both individually and collectively about our parlous medical situation. But we should work together sharing worthwhile information.

January 2012, email to Scott Elkin:

Scott, It pains me to hear that you have fallen into the clutches of " low ranked medical standing".  I also have become a victim of our mutual medical system.  

Note: The USA ranks between 30th and 60th internationally in medical systems, by WHO analysis. With that as a scary starting point, I now believe it ranks lower and is headed towards total oblivion.  

Fortunately, I never threw stones at elders. It didn't seem sporting. And of course I was worried about them being better stone throwers than I.  

But now that I have fallen into the clutches of terminal group of local physicians, I realize that they won't let go of my insurance until I am dead. It hurts, but probably true.  

I hope that your exit is less painful than mine. I can barely walk. My only salvation. Know that I would offer you some sort of sympathy but I am overwhelmed by my own sorry condition.