Nearly One-Third of Doctors Could Leave Medicine if Health-Care Reform Bill Passes

[FlaGator]

Remember, Obama only wants to do what is best for the American people



Nearly One-Third of Doctors Could Leave Medicine if Health-Care Reform Bill Passes, New England Journal of Medicine Says
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
By Christopher Neefus

(CNSNews.com) - Nearly one-third of all practicing physicians may leave the medical profession if President Obama signs current versions of health-care reform legislation into law, according to a survey (http://www.nejmjobs.org/rpt/physician-survey-health-reform-impact.aspx) published in the latest issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

The survey, which was conducted by the Medicus Firm, a leading physician search and consulting firm based in Atlanta and Dallas, found that a majority of physicians said health-care reform would cause the quality of American medical care to “deteriorate” and it could be the “final straw” that sends a sizeable number of doctors out of medicine.

More than 29 percent (29.2) percent of the nearly 1,200 doctors who responded to the survey said they would quit the profession or retire early if health reform legislation becomes law. If a public option were included in the legislation, as several liberal Senators have indicated they would like, the number would jump to 45.7 percent.

The medical journal published the results in its March and April edition, saying: “While a sudden loss of half of the nations physicians seems unlikely, a very dramatic decrease in the physician workforce could become a reality as an unexpected side effect of health reform.”


The story is here (http://cnsnews.com/news/article/62812)

[Apocalypse]

I personally know of two in my small home town, who have said they will quit if it passes. For this area, even that small number would be devastating as we have few to begin with.

[lacarnut]

The scary part is that there will not be enough new doctors to replace them. Adding 30 million to the health care system and you have a recipe for disaster. Plus, the incentive for becoming a doctor in certain fields may be dampened.

[fettpett]

a lot of them will probably just leave the country, there are a lot of places where they could go where their skills are in high demand, may not make the same amount of money as here, but they would be able to do whatever they feel is necessary

[lacarnut]

a lot of them will probably just leave the country, there are a lot of places where they could go where their skills are in high demand, may not make the same amount of money as here, but they would be able to do whatever they feel is necessary

Mexico and Panama have quite a few doctors trained in the US. Caribbean countries like Belize would welcome them with open arms.

[ralph wiggum]

During the Clinton years, my future father-in-law was a M.D., general practitioner. He said then if any of the reforms being offered then were passed, he'd quit immediately. He's retired now, but I imagine he feels the same way along with many of his colleagues.

[stsinner]

Wait a minute! Obama said that our costs won't go up and our quality of health care won't go down.. Surely adding 30 million new people to the schedules of doctors and having doctors leave the profession won't be detrimental in any way..

[lacarnut]

Wait a minute! Obama said that our costs won't go up and our quality of health care won't go down.. Surely adding 30 million new people to the schedules of doctors and having doctors leave the profession won't be detrimental in any way..

It's all magic just like no one making under $250k taxes will go up. This asshole lies.