ELK GROVE VILLAGE - Physicians in the audience at Congressman Joe Walsh's (IL-8) townhall Sunday afternoon in Elk Grove Village stepped forward with concerns about government-run health care. Two of the medical doctors passionately warned how health care decision-making was already changing and that government bureaucrats and medical costs are already becoming obstacles between doctors and patients, despite political assurances otherwise.
Physician #1 (female) -
I am a physician. I don't know if you are aware, but back in the good old days, physicians could charge what they wanted and write off what they wanted. Today, I have to face fraud if I charge less than Medicare. I am aware of the plight of my patients, but it's not worth going to jail.
Welcome to the death panels. They are truly here. No longer can I order preventive tests for my patients. I have to wait until any idiot could diagnose the disease - and then guess what - then it's too late.
Physician #2 (male) -
As a family practice doctor up north, my biggest concern is that if my government can make the Catholic Church do what is morally objectionable, I can guarantee you they can make Dr. Ray Bianchi do it as well. And that is my biggest concern.
What Joe says we have to have the responsibility for health care, I couldn't believe it more. If we give it to the government, it'll come down to dollars, and only dollars.
What if one of you came into my office with a broken limb, wouldn't I stabilize you, and care for you? Wouldn't that be the most humane thing to do? I would do that for my dog.
We cannot give the government the power to decide what happens to you. That decision is between you and me, your doctor.
