We have a problem in the first world. The problem is: healthcare has gotten very expensive. What would make care affordable? I posit that this is impossible without a change in mindset. The first world must re-learn a few things (I placed negative principles next to the positive counterparts and bolded what I though were the two:
- Death and suffering are not the greatest evils (not even close).
Rather, holiness is the greatest good. - Simplicity is a great means to the greatest good via the second greatest commandment.
This means acquisition of wealth is not the greatest good, or the greatest means.
- Physicians' (and other providers') motives shift from moneymaking to taking care of patients.
- Legal professionals' motives make the same shift (albeit to protection of justice) and medical malpractice insurance goes down, lowering fees for service.
- Patients are less afraid of death and place an appropriately higher value on conservative (cheaper) treatment.
- Anyone affected protects the sanctity of life (abortion is chosen as an alternative to a kind of death, or suffering).
- Perspective reigns and people across borders are truly equalized: the phrase "first-world problem" is an embarassing testament to our lack of perspective. Although some medical problems are objectively distressing, some that are currently treated ($) could be tolerated if a mindset change occured.
- Payment in kind to healthcare providers
- Increase in charitable involvment in healthcare
- Subsidiarity in healthcare insurance
- Movement toward the master-apprentice model of medical education to decrease physician loans
- Improve ethics training in medical education (improves physician's choices of medical procedures)
- Improve bedside manner (improves patients' self-value and ability to make good choices for their health)
- Protect the traditional family (health outcomes are vastly better when families are intact) including elder care as the population ages
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