Comments on ReasonPharm: A bleak future

If you want to see how bad it can get, just look t...

2008-05-08T22:34:00.000-04:00

If you want to see how bad it can get, just look to the Province of Ontario in Canada, where altruism has been made most obvious.

Exhibit #1: Canadian Press, November 7, 2005; headline: "Smitherman apologizes for calling optometrists terrorists". Story excerpts: "Ontario Health Minister George Smitherman has apologized for calling some members of the Ontario Association of Optometrists "terrorists" after a party fundraiser last week. Association president Shirley Ha wrote a letter to members quoting Smitherman as saying optometrists are "a bunch of terrorists, and I don't negotiate with terrorists."...Spencer said the comments were made in response to some optometrists who suggested they might withdraw some services because of concerns about fees.

Exhibit #2: Canadian Press, June 7, 2004; headline: "Ont. government passes hospital accountability bill ". Story excerpt: "The bill also implements fines for those who jump the queue or help people get to the front of the line for reasons other than need. "It's designed to try to make sure that access to our essential health services are done on the basis of need not if you have a lot of money or know a few people," [Health Minister] Smitherman said.

Yes, unfortunately this is the result of the "Cert...

2008-05-08T17:38:00.000-04:00

Yes, unfortunately this is the result of the "Certificate Of Need" (CON) system in states like Michigan. Leonard Peikoff wrote about that in "Medicine: Death of A Profession" several years ago.

Fortunately, Colorado is not a CON state, which is why entrepreneurs can open up MRI centers and compete in the semi-free market.

In contrast, Missouri is a CON state (or at least was back when I was there). The Washington University radiology department chief used to have to use political pull (i.e., wining and dining the relevant CON officers) to get approval to purchase more CT and MRI machines for the hospital. He could usually make a good case because we were a top 10 medical center for the entire country, but he also had to make his case based on the University's commitment to community service, indigent care we provided for the needy of the St. Louis metro area, etc.

But that also meant that the private radiology practices in the area *couldn't* expand as the market warranted because the University frequently got the much-coveted CON's for the area.

So the Michigan story is appalling. But unfortunately, it's nothing new.

Paul Hsieh, MD
Freedom and Individual Rights in Medicine: www.WeStandFIRM.org

Good post. This is indeed an ominous development....

2008-05-05T16:55:00.000-04:00

Good post. This is indeed an ominous development.

I found one small bit in the linked article particularly troubling, namely the reference to "the state’s Certificate of Need Commission," which is the relevant regulatory body in the Michigan government.

Does that sound like a department in the government of Mr. Thompson, or the management of the 21st Century Motor Company, or what?