Universal Socialized Healthcare Scleroderma and my point of view
In the fall of 2008, I received the news from Dr. Warrington (Rheumatology) at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN that I have Scleroderma (referred to a Rheumatologist closer to home). This answered many months of having swollen joints, fingers and toes turning red, white, and blue, painful toes and fingers, tight skin on face and hands, painful joints to the point of not being able to walk, and some fatigue. I was relieved that I actually could put a name to what was happening to my body. But after discussing with Dr. Warrington treatment options and what to expect, it started to sink in that I would be in a life and death struggle with this disease. It was thought that I had the limited form, but by winter of 2008-09, that was changed by Dr. Holmgren (Rheumatologist in St. Cloud, MN) who diagnosed me with Systemic /Diffuse Scleroderma.
Scleroderma is an autoimmune connective tissue disease affecting small blood vessels and causing excess collagen accumulation. The term scleroderma means “thick skin”. There are two types of scleroderma: the systemic form (affects adults), which effects the internal organs or internal systems of the body as well as the skin, and the localized form, which affects a specific area of skin. In systemic scleroderma, the activation of the immune system causes damage to two main body parts: the small blood vessels (called the vascular system) and the collagen-producing cells located through out the body but concentrated in the skin. In systemic scleroderma the small blood vessels tend to narrow, and sometimes the blood channel is totally closed. This can lead to kidney damage. On top of this, the collagen part of the disease is responsible for the thick and tight skin, the lung and heart problems, and the gastrointestinal features of this disease. (Mayes, 2005). There is absolutely no cure for this disease and management is by trial and error. Everybody reacts differently to this disease; some people have hardly any problems, while others are left fighting to breathe.
As I watch the White House and Congress play Russian roulette with my health care, I started researching how it actually is working in countries like the United Kingdom, France, and Canada-I have realized that there could be lots of problems ahead for the sick children and adults of this country, not including higher payroll taxes, property taxes, sales tax, and higher city taxes for all Americans. This is not including the huge debt of $14T (and growing) that this country has and cannot pay, but this White House and Congress is looking to add at least another trillion more (in about 10yrs) with introducing a Universal/Socialized health care plan for all Americans…how is this going to be paid for?
United Kingdom a person can get denied life saving treatments for cancer(including medications), wait for months just to see a specialist, long waiting lists, elderly are losing their homes and life savings, clinical starvation while in the hospital for treatment and the lists continues. This is not including the fact the set up of the Department of Health which includes the National Health Services-there are 6 ministerial that help over see the Chief Medical Officer, Permanent Secretary, the NHS Chief Executive, Research & Development department, Health Improvement & Protection, 9 Regional Public Health Groups/Directors, Finance & Operations, Policy & Strategy, Communications, Deputy CMO/Chief Gov’t Advisor in Inequalities, Chief Nursing Officer, NHS Medical Directorate, Commission & Systems Mgmt., Work Force, Commercial, NHS Finance, Performance & Operations, and Chief Info. Officer-does anybody see a problem?
In Canada, if you need to see a doctor(no choice), be ready to wait for up to 9 hours to just get into his/her office; that does not include the wait just to see a nurse who evaluates how sick or hurt you really are. If you need a tetanus shot you might have to wait 3 days before you can receive it, because the clinic or hospital may not have it in stock. You could go to a clinic that has been opened the day before, but it might be closed and do not ever get sick on a Sunday-nobody will be there. Be careful having surgery, because there is a good chance the surgeon may do the wrong procedure or if you are having an amputation of one limb, could lose both. Is this what America really wants for its future generations?
France though deemed successful by the W.H.O has its own problems and challenges. The French national insurance system called Assurance Maladie has been running a major debt since the 1980’s, which is now upwards of $13.5B. This in turn has led to workers paying 21 percent of their income to the national health care system, while employers pay in about 10%-11% of their income, which they blame has led to less hiring. This has not been enough, so the French government has imposed American 
style “co-pays” on patients to help lower prescription drug costs and force state hospitals to lower expenses. This has led to service cuts including closing down maternity wards in many locations that are not considered productive enough. Many patients, doctors, and nurses are starting to accuse the government of health care rationing. Does America want to add even more to its soaring debt and burden?
The United States of America has great health care-look around so many people from the Middle East, Africa, South America, Canada, United Kingdom, and Europe come here to receive the best treatment and diagnosis at places like the Cleveland Clinic, Mayo Clinic, John Hopkins, Cedar-Sinai Hospital and so many more. Does any other country have such know how and the freedom of doctors to treat patients the way they need to be? No. Is the United States health care perfect? No. Will Universal/Socialized Health care improve health care for the over 300 million people in the United States? No. The United States have government run/entitlement programs like Medicare and Medicaid and they both have been plagued by fraud and debt for many years and the White House and Congress thinks it can run a bigger health care program? No Way! Why do the White House and Congress want to transform the health care system for about 30 million people? That is less than 10% of the total population of this whole country. The Department of Health and Human Services has 11 agencies that are over seen by 4 people plus regional representatives and there still is not any control of the waste and fraud that is constantly happening; how does expanding government do any good? Somebody please ask the United Kingdom with their 6 ministerial(s), 9 regional public health care groups, plus 17 other departments?
I talk to people from countries like Canada and the United Kingdom with this disease and they have to wait months just to receive a CAT scan of their lungs, which they could be dead by that time. To see a specialist like a GI doctor, rheumatologist, heart specialist, kidney specialist, could take up to 8 months and that also could prove deadly as well. Many are denied much needed medications or oxygen because it is too expensive. I do not want this kind of tyrannical rules to decide if I (or for future generations) live or die or not-it is not a government decision, it is between my doctor and I (of course the Lord has the final say).
What is the best path for the United States of America to take on health care? Start by doing some “house cleaning” in Medicare and Medicaid-cut waste and fraud to under 10% and make sure all doctors are compensated in a just manner. Next, put a cap on malpractice lawsuits, along with making it possible to purchase health insurance across state lines and nobody is denied insurance for a pre-existing condition-let free market principles actually be allowed to work. Keep the government out of the “Health care Insurance Business” because as proven by Canada, United Kingdom, and France it really does not work in the long haul.
In conclusion, as a woman fighting Systemic/Diffuse Scleroderma I do know that the United States health care system is not perfect, but it is the best in the world and that is why so many people come to receive diagnosis and treatment. By overhauling the health care system for 30 million uninsured people and expanding government into your health and well being, you are giving up your right to be an individual with individual health care needs. Are you ready to give away that freedom?
References
Case study: united kingdom. Denial of health care. (n.d.). Retrieved on March 1, 2010, from http://www.giggovhealth.org/resource/case-study=united-kingdom
Crowder, S. 2009. Obamacare yay or nay? The truth about Canada. Retrieved on March 1, 2010, from http://www.youtube.com
Department of health and human services. (n.d.). Retrieved on March 2, 2010, from http://www.hhs.gov/about
Department of health organization chart. (n.d.) Retrieved on March 2, 2010, from
http://www.dh.gov.UK/prod_cosum_dh/groups/dkdigitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_100819.pdf
Department of health. National health service. 2009 Report. Retrieved on March 2, 2010, from http://www.dh.gov.uk
Helen evans on the u.k. healthcare. October 2009. Retrieved on March 1, 2010, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Mayes, M.D. (Eds.). (2005). The scleroderma book (pp. 4, 6, 7). New York, N.Y. Oxford University Press
Shapiro, Joseph. Health care lessons from France. July 11, 2008. Retrieved on March 1, 2010, from http://www.npr.org
The French lesson in health care. July 9, 2007. Retrieved on March 1, 2010, from
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_28
United kingdom. (n.d). Retrieved on March 1, 2010, from http://medhunters.com/articles/healthcareintheuk.html
United kingdom. (n.d.). Retrieved on March 1, 2010, from
http://www.nationmaster.com/country/UK-United-Kingdom/hea-health
Villars-Gauthier, David. France fights universal health care. August 7, 2009. Retrieved on March 1, 2010 from http://online.wsj.com
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3 Responses to Universal Socialized Healthcare Scleroderma and my point of view
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Thank you for this article, it is one of the best I have read that gives the side by side comparisons of other Government run healthscare systems for an actual and real life disease, that needs to be monitored and managed to treat symptoms. Some Americans just don’t understand what will be missing in health care if this bill passes and you have brought this to light. It is not about “free” healthcare it is about the loss of freedom for healthcare. Thanks
Thank you Paula. Freedom in healthcare is very important for all Americans & I hope this country realizes it before it is too late.
Hi – I would like to say thank you for an interesting site about a subject I have had an interest in for a while now. I have been lurking and reading the posts avidly so just wanted to express my thanks for providing me with some very good reading material. I look forward to more, and taking a more proactive part in the discussions here, whilst picking up some knowledge too!!