Probably the time for docs to really get PO’ed is when congress cuts the doc pay 20% in a couple years. Or perhaps if the docs are perceived to be a real threat they’ll be bought off by congress with taxpayer money.

just endorsed this garbage. (Was their earlier endorsement just for the House bill? Why do they keep making pronouncements?)

---

Activists Taking Action: Unified Patriots

I’m not sure if a strike is the right way to go, and most likely will turn the public against us “greedy docs.” The public perception is already that we make too much money for what we do and if healthcare is too expensive, the easy fix is to cut our compensation. Add a strike and the dems will just call us “greedy” though they already do that.

Most physicians I know are against this and if you listen to those of us outside the AMA we think this is a bad idea. If you talk to those who aren’t on the frontilnes they seem to think this is a great idea, as more money for bureacracy means more cash in their pockets. The only fix will come in a few years when suddenly you can’t get into see a good primary care doctor becomes there aren’t any. Cut reimbursement and the incentive to go into medicine is gone. Yes, we still want to help people, but when plumbers make more per hour than FPs and Peds the pro’s of going to 4 years college, 4 years med school, 3 years residency and the 6 figure student loan don’t look so enticing. Granted, the Gov’t is working to replace us with PA’s and NP’s so you’ll get half the care at half the price and the threat of losing Primary Care doesn’t carry as much weight. There’s also talk of trying to force expansion of medical school acceptance so we’ll turn out more docs of poorer quality. Look overseas and you’ll see the same system – first level access of mediocre physicians and “physician extenders” and a second tier of good docs that are cash only and serving the upper crust. Why do you think Congress refuses to sign onto this program for themselves.

There are has been a ton of discussion over at Sermo (MD only message board)about this and while the though of striking was raised almost universally we’ve talked it down due to concern over what will happen to our pt’s. There are thousands of docs out there saying this is bad for a variety of reasons, just noone listens to us, they just listen to the knotheads at the AMA.

Lastly, they also won’t cut payments by 20%, they threaten but overturn it every year and tell us how grateful we should be. Not sure why medicare comp is the only program that is written to decrease benefits annually whereas every other bureacracy in Washington seems to be written to have mandated increases annually.

I think it is stupid not do so, regardless of what the media says or what people think. I don’t think a “strike” would be possible though. Rather doctors would likely have to quit completely.

Not a single one will though, and I can only conclude that their opposition is either not there or not strong enough to withstand popular opinion, which are pretty much the same to me.

I *love* your diaries. Keep ‘em coming. But could you please not post the titles in ALL CAPS? It’s considered bad form and there are certain folks here who I am in contact with who find it very annoying.

Thanks, and keep writing.

The government just made it harder for them, and will control their income..who would want that?
Doctors should think about it.
Where will I find a real good doctor now if this passes??
I might wind up with an unlicensed practitioner over at his house…
paying cash under the table to get decent care.
I’d rather see a Veterinarian as it is..
Mark

Your diary is very important. It is still another way to have an alternative view of what Dr. Ceicil, president of AMA, has to say. I would be absolutely in support of Docs not being so readily available, other than for emergency services. The Doctors are, without doubt, the biggest losers in this whole Senate Healthcare bill. If I read one more article pointing out that Doctors will retire early I will scream. If anyone caught the Glenn Beck show the night he had the Doctors on, the audience was broken in two. The doctors currently in practice, for any number of years, outnumbered those across from them that were either new doctors, or, medical students. They have been indoctrinated. The Government will pay your student loans if you agree to work for what the Government agrees to pay you.

Instead of the doctors going on strike. How about they refuse to see patients under the new Medicare reimbursement rates and they offer the spots that used to go to Medicare, to insurance companies at the same rate that Medicare used to charge. Those on Medicare would see their favorite doctors refusing to take Medicare.

I have been a Nurse for almost 15 years and I can tell you that one thing stands true, when the cuts in compensation happen the cuts in direct care, i.e. Nurses, happen. The last I heard the average age of a floor RN was 52 years old and less people are going into the field, most of the nursing instructors are baby boomers who are due to retire in a few years. The net effect of that is simple to come up with, less people will become nurses because nurseing pay will bottom and nurses already work understaffed in most places, we will have fewer people who move on to become nursing instructors so we won’t even be able to do anything about the shortages that already exist, much less the shortages that already exist in this country. Now for those of you that are going I know a “British, New Zeland, Eruopean, or any nurse that comes from a country with government run healthcare ask yourself why they are here. In a few years ask yourself when you go into a procedure then ask yourself why the person assisting the Doctor is a “Tech” and not a Nurse.

This effects more than just the physicians, it also will also effect those of us who have dedicated our lives to supporting Physicians and the patients they treat. I used to say that the great thing about being a nurse is that I will always be able to have a job, thats not worth alot if my job doesn’t pay my bills.

Mike

I am a doctor (a radiologist). The discussion about strikes has been had in the past. There is a question about the legality of a strike (though I am unsure whether it is legal or not). But in all honesty, most doctors don’t want to strike on ethical reasons: they simply cannot rationalize leaving sick people to suffer on their own. It is certainly not about the money, and I think the majority of doctors are against Obamacare.

I can tell you that doctors are leaving the AMA in droves. I have not had much time for the AMA at all…they have largely been a liberal organization for years, and not receptive to doctors as a whole. I think currently less than a third of doctors are members of the AMA…the lowest in recent memory.

I would support a strike, and willing to join myself. But unfortunately, I think I am in the minority. Doctors voices have largely been ignored during this debate, and the public doesn’t even realize it. We are getting screwed as much as anyone…but we are castigate as rich and spoiled, and that we should shut up.

In the end, ultimately doctors will speak with their services, as more and more physicians refuse to take 30 cents on a dollar that Medicare gives us. Only then will big government listen.

www.neoavatara.com/blog

One of the fundamental principles of conservative opposition to government medicine is that the individual has the right and freedom to select a doctor. The doctor-patient relationship is one of trust and to be nurtured — personalized and not bureacratized.

A doctor strike would destroy the trust between doctors and patients. It is not just about emergency situations, it’s about life and health. A strike would play into the hands of the central planners.

A Doctor revolt is a great idea. It just can’t be a strike. Perhaps they can send letters to all of their patients explaining why they oppose Obamacare, how it will affect their relationship. Maybe the doctors could step into the role of counsellor.

A true strike would be counterproductive, the public would turn on doctors in a big way. Doctors should have been more vocal about this whole process. What’s ironic is the AMA used to be a stalwart opponent to fight socialized medicine, it was a sort of NRA for doctors. Now it’s completely been overtaken by leftists.

Doctors should have formed more aggressive PACs to have fought this from the beginning, but doctors are usually too busy to play politics.

If doctors started refusing Medicare and Medicaid en masse though, that would really send a signal. It’s already happening, but it’s so slow that it lacks the dramatic punch needed to really wake people up.

Ultimately, what’s going to end up happening if we continue down this road is there’s going to be crappy health care from the government that we get taxed and pay for whether we use it or not, and REAL health care that we will have to pay for out of pocket. So to get quality health care, Americans will have to pay twice as much.

once The Govt. tells them how much they can make and where they can practice.

because I am a second-career — no, third-career — Nursing student. My first career was in law, followed by a long career as a full-time mom, and now this new adventure.

Although the wheels were turning in my head for years and I’ve always been fascinated by medical science, it was 9-11 that really pushed me into wanting to serve in this capacity. Yes, I could also use an income and less expensive benefits (great timing, huh?) but it was the sight of people standing around on 9-11, unsure what to do, that brought me to the realization that I wanted to be the one who rushes toward danger to help those in need, not away from it.

Side note: I had the chance a few days ago while Christmas shopping to render First Aid to a man who sustained a horrific head injury, falling face first onto concrete, convulsing violently. Either nobody else around me knew what to do, or they were afraid to do anything for fear of a lawsuit. (The employees of the warehouse store where I was shopping did NOTHING — not even after I ordered them to retrieve the AED and call 911.)

Doctors may or may not be able to strike (there are many ethical considerations, such as patient abandonment, etc.) but they must start speaking out loudly.

I am not in this for the money, but I cannot help doctors serve their patients if they cannot afford to pay me. How can they possibly do that if they are reimbursed only a small percentage of the cost of care? What will people do when they have to give birth at home because no doctor can afford to offer labor and delivery and other essential services?

I’m still waiting for a RedStater to discuss nullification in depth. We need to STOP putting all of our eggs in the federal basket regarding Obamacare. Several states already have nullification on the ballot for next Nov. If even half a dozen states nullify Obamacare it will collapse. We need to work our butts off to elect conservatives to state legislatures and governorships.

GOP candidate for Oklahoma sent me the below when I inquired about his thoughts on nullification:

Nullification for a state is an important tool that should be used to make sure the Federal Government doesn’t over-step their boundaries and assure checks and balances. I am willing to claim Oklahoma’s nullification on several unconstitutional legislation from the federal government. Here is just a short list…

1. Federal Income Tax
2. ObamaCare (if passes)
3. Gas Tax
4. Mandates on Public Schools

Thanks for your question,

RB

http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2009/12/21/health-care-nullification-things-have-just-gotten-underway/

That might kill something!

I say we should try it.

www.jeannie-ology.com

Just tell me when to take a week off…

Doctors AND Small Business could probably both do a rolling strike that could last months. Both will get a stake to the heart of what they are all about.

Neither are well understood by Obamacrats — Obamacrats are all about big business, greenies, lawyers, racial pimps and big unions.

comfortable getting political. I can’t even get most of my docotors to tell me how they really feel, though I suspect they disapprove, judging by the few cryptic comments I am able to get out of them . (I have a GP, an OB, and a Rheumatologist.) I don’t think they’d strike, though I’d support them all the way.

They need to understand that we NEED their voices to be heard, though.

Wish we could think of how to make that happen….refusing Medicare/Medicaid is as good a start as any, I suppose.

Doctors colluding to go on strike (or set fees or anything else) is a violation of antitrust law and is VIGOROUSLY prosecuted by the Justice Department. It’s happened at least a couple of times in the past that I can think of. Triple damages, jail time, the whole shebangabang. I’d personally rather just start an armed insurrection if things get to that point.

This was posted 25 hours ago, and has elicited a lot of response, both positive and negative, and cautionary. Thanks, and keep it up. While a serious question, looking for some scent of positive action, it is also a probe of sorts.

Lesson: How the Left, Obamailis, even Al Qaeda would “mine” this, if they were the originators, would be to find out if, off-screen, other things are happening. From other sources, (their blog networks, among them) they would wanting to know if doctors are beginning to meet, e.g.
They do this all the time.

I don’t know that our side has that capability, but if we do, I’d keep it on the QT, as my guess is that word is already trickling up to come up with a response by early January, when the final bill is slated to be signed into law.

Interesting stuff, huh?