Doctor a slave to health care bias

What to make of Friday’s (8/28) article about the so-called “forum” on health care reform, hosted by the Conservative Patriots Group (CPG) and moderated by right-wing talk show jock Glen Biegel?

CPG president Jennie Bettine claims that the forum was not “canned” in any way, yet according to reporter Todd Disher, Biegel began the discussion by referring to an “alleged” 47 million uninsured Americans, and no physician on the panel had anything positive to say about the current health care reform proposals before Congress.

Yet, I read the papers, and it seems that at least half of the letters and opinion pieces published that are from physicians are in favor of health care reform, with a strong public option. How come none of those docs were included on the CPG panel? And why does Biegel speak of 47 million “alleged” uninsured much the same way CPG’s Web site treats “alleged” global warming — as a hoax.

Here’s a gem from one of the physician panelists: “Slavery was abolished in 1865. I’m not going to be a slave to the government. I’ve already served my time.”

This panelist was apparently referring to his 21 years in the Army as a condition of servitude equivalent to that suffered by the ancestors of black Americans. A condition of servitude which he “re-upped” for numerous times. A condition of servitude that allows him a good retirement so he could begin a whole new practice in a lucrative medical profession as a civilian, go on panels and bemoan his previous government enslavement. Is this what passes for health care debate these days?

The article’s most thoughtful and insightful statement came from surgeon Brent Taylor, who said, “America needs to decide if health care is a right or a privilege.”

According to Taylor, coming to a consensus on that issue will move health care in America forward. I think Dr. Taylor is correct. Obviously, “health care for all” is not one of the enumerated rights as amended into the Constitution. But don’t forget the 9th Amendment in the Bill of Rights, that states: “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.” This means that just because a right isn’t listed in the Constitution, doesn’t mean we don’t have that right. Add to that the phrase from the Constitution’s Preamble, ”Promote the general Welfare” and I believe you could make a case that health care, at least in the 21st century, is indeed a right.

The Conservative Patriots Group’s name suggests that it is indeed patriotic, and if you needed proof of that patriotism, go to its Web site, where you’ll find on the home page (along with a link to its “Global Warming Hoax” page), an American flag. Imbedded in that flag is the Preamble to the Constitution, including the words “Promote the general Welfare.” If the Founders of this country were so forward thinking, why can’t these patriots be?

Bill Siedler is a high school social studies teacher in the Valley.