America's healthcare system is a racket.
Another drug corporation just agreed to pay over $600 million as a penalty for giving physicians pay-offs and bribes. Another drug corporation is being sued over and over for misleading advertising. Another drug corporation has been sued for withholding information about the damaging and life-threatening side-effects of a prescription drug. Another drug corporation is being sued for overcharging the federal government's Medicaid program. And on and on and on it goes.
This is not about some rogue company doing business in a dark alley. These are examples of the devious, greedy, and criminal acts by the best-known drug corporations in America. Meanwhile our politicians and our president give them favors and windfalls.
Did you notice that physicians are in the mix, but never charged with any criminal action? Many physicians take these bribes from drug companies willingly and gladly. Too many American physicians feel they are owed amazingly large incomes. The long educational preparation for physicians is often used as an excuse, as though accepting bribes is a part of what they are owed. No other profession which requires similar education receives the income and perks of physicians. Anyone who has worked with physicians knows the godlike status they receive and gladly place on themselves. If you question a physician's decision, you are looked upon with suspicion ...or you may lose your job (whether or not you are correct in your assessment).
Hospitals are no different. Too many hospitals usurped the things paid for by church and charitable organizations, and have turned them into money machines. Boards on these hospital behemoths often feather their own nests in the process of "serving the community." Pity the poor woman or man who gave willingly of their meager income to establish these hospitals and now cannot afford to make themselves available of their services.
This happens in no other western world, industrialized nation. Afraid of socialized medicine? We should be so lucky! Only in the U.S. do people have their lives, estates, and savings ravaged by a racket we call healthcare.
