If the so-called "Big Beautiful Bill"--or what I like to call the Unhinged Ugly Usurping--passes the Senate, say goodbye to finding a primary care physician in your neighborhood. Or anywhere.
Other countries already think we are crazy because we don’t have universal healthcare. What must they think when they see the debt doctors have to taken on even when they agree to work in underserved communities. Btw, I am curious how those communities voted, including those that were too busy to vote. So is extra 3 hours of driving each time you need healthcare worth the time savings of not bothering to vote in 2024?
I worry about the future of medicine right now. It's all so untenable the way our system is set up, and now with RFK and Trump and...ugh...don't get me started...
I see the insurance company/health care crisis from both sides. I find it difficult to give the care that I want AND difficult to GET the care that I want. Running a private practice I have just decided to do what I want, argue as much as I have to with insurance (on the daily), but, paid or not, always try to give the best care to my patients. Thanks for writing.
I am going to sign off Deb. I admire your writing but the thread that unites all of your writing is injustice and collecting examples. My father used to say, do not be an injustice collector and I guess that stayed with me. It is not that your many examples of injustice are wrong or unimportant, but the focus is oppressive as a lens through which to view life.
I'm so sorry you feel that way, Ruth. And I'm sorry to see you go. But, to be clear, I also disagree with you. I never got into journalism to collect injustices, but when I notice them, and when they affect me and/or women and/or your average American, as in this story, about how we will not have primary care in our country if we keep heading down this path, I believe it is my duty to point out those issues for the benefit of others. I also do not view life through the lens of injustice. Especially these days, when my life is as beautiful and filled with love and respect as it's ever been, despite its many past challenges. Also, simply looking at the past, let's say, twelve essays herein--which I did, just to understand what you were saying--I'm having a hard time understanding what you're talking about. Going backwards in order: a story about two excellent new books by Molly Jong-Fast and Nicola Kraus I think everyone should read; a story about how successful siblings help each other succeed, based on a book by Sue Dominus; a story about how happy I am in my new home, after years of feeling rootless and unmoored; a story about being nominated for (and subsequently winning) a Webby; a story about how love is the best antidote to hate; a story about how I've been able to end a cycle of recurring UTIs with a protocol that includes a daily probiotic; a meditation on how past mistakes have given me insight into how to live better today; a story urging women who've taken their husband's name to get their paperwork in order for the next election; a story about how those of us born between 1957 and 1968 need a measles booster; a story about scattering my best friend's ashes (which was definitely and obviously not the happiest of stories, but still, I fail to see the injustice you mention as a theme, other than the injustice that we all must die, and that I'm sad my best friend left us too soon); and a story about how SSRIs might cause bone loss. I truly fail to see what you're talking about, but if you don't like my writing, it's absolutely and completely your prerogative to stop subscribing to this Substack. And I thank you, with all my heart, for being a subscriber in the past. I appreciate your support just as I appreciate each and every one of my readers who enjoy my writing enough to pay for it.
Other countries already think we are crazy because we don’t have universal healthcare. What must they think when they see the debt doctors have to taken on even when they agree to work in underserved communities. Btw, I am curious how those communities voted, including those that were too busy to vote. So is extra 3 hours of driving each time you need healthcare worth the time savings of not bothering to vote in 2024?
I worry about the future of medicine right now. It's all so untenable the way our system is set up, and now with RFK and Trump and...ugh...don't get me started...
I see the insurance company/health care crisis from both sides. I find it difficult to give the care that I want AND difficult to GET the care that I want. Running a private practice I have just decided to do what I want, argue as much as I have to with insurance (on the daily), but, paid or not, always try to give the best care to my patients. Thanks for writing.
I hear you, and thank you for doing everything you can as a doctor. I'm sure your patients appreciate it. And sorry it's so hard in this country!
I am going to sign off Deb. I admire your writing but the thread that unites all of your writing is injustice and collecting examples. My father used to say, do not be an injustice collector and I guess that stayed with me. It is not that your many examples of injustice are wrong or unimportant, but the focus is oppressive as a lens through which to view life.
I'm so sorry you feel that way, Ruth. And I'm sorry to see you go. But, to be clear, I also disagree with you. I never got into journalism to collect injustices, but when I notice them, and when they affect me and/or women and/or your average American, as in this story, about how we will not have primary care in our country if we keep heading down this path, I believe it is my duty to point out those issues for the benefit of others. I also do not view life through the lens of injustice. Especially these days, when my life is as beautiful and filled with love and respect as it's ever been, despite its many past challenges. Also, simply looking at the past, let's say, twelve essays herein--which I did, just to understand what you were saying--I'm having a hard time understanding what you're talking about. Going backwards in order: a story about two excellent new books by Molly Jong-Fast and Nicola Kraus I think everyone should read; a story about how successful siblings help each other succeed, based on a book by Sue Dominus; a story about how happy I am in my new home, after years of feeling rootless and unmoored; a story about being nominated for (and subsequently winning) a Webby; a story about how love is the best antidote to hate; a story about how I've been able to end a cycle of recurring UTIs with a protocol that includes a daily probiotic; a meditation on how past mistakes have given me insight into how to live better today; a story urging women who've taken their husband's name to get their paperwork in order for the next election; a story about how those of us born between 1957 and 1968 need a measles booster; a story about scattering my best friend's ashes (which was definitely and obviously not the happiest of stories, but still, I fail to see the injustice you mention as a theme, other than the injustice that we all must die, and that I'm sad my best friend left us too soon); and a story about how SSRIs might cause bone loss. I truly fail to see what you're talking about, but if you don't like my writing, it's absolutely and completely your prerogative to stop subscribing to this Substack. And I thank you, with all my heart, for being a subscriber in the past. I appreciate your support just as I appreciate each and every one of my readers who enjoy my writing enough to pay for it.
Hello from France where this situation makes no sense to me. Thanks for speaking out about it. Loved your wedding story too.