NEWS > HEALTH > DOCTORS CONCERNED HEALTH CARE OPPONENTS GETTING A LITTLE TOO EXCITED

DOCTORS CONCERNED HEALTH CARE OPPONENTS GETTING A LITTLE TOO EXCITED

August 12 2009

Washington, D.C. – In the seemingly never-ending health care battle in the United States that stakes have never been higher. With more movement in the last six months than there has been in the history of the country the nation is drawing closer
and closer to some kind of resolution that would allow all people across the country to receive proper medical care. With President Obama’s bill currently being debated in the senate and in the public realm it appears that one way or another all Americans will eventually have health care.

It is in the public realm that the proposal is being fought most vehemently with everyone from Arlen Specter to the President himself being criticized and shouted down by protestors when showing up for discussions about the bill. It is that anger that has started to concern doctors with many fearing that the stress being caused by protests may result in significant health issues. Medical officials are particularly concerned about the advanced age of many of the protestors, which constitutes the bulk of those who are most vocal, and the possible deleterious effects on their long term health.

“What concerns me most is that the very people most at risk for things like untreated hypertension and heart disease are the same people that are up there shouting. People with sound medical coverage and that are therefore in good health have no reason to protest a medical coverage bill. Unfortunately the passion that they are dedicating to protest will likely give them more of a need for such insurance,” said Doctor Rance Kendricks of the AMA. “We are of course concerned with their health and well being but we are also concerned that if successful in bringing down this bill they will be put into significant financial stress. That of course could have ancillary medical effects and could seriously harm these people and potentially inhibit their ability to protest future legislation.”

The majority of the most vocal protestors are believed to be 50+. Many believe that the legislation is moving the country closer to Socialist ideals though there are few other actions that being planned by the Obama administration that lean towards socialism, at least in the Marxist-Leninist sense of the word.

“One thing that even the AMA isn’t taking not of is the nature of a lot of the people doing the protesting. Many of them are right-leaning Conservatives who hold onto traditional American values such as eating and drinking a lot. Already they are going to be at significant risk for cardiovascular ailments and certain types of cancers. By getting up on the pulpit and shouting across huge auditoriums they are exacerbating underlying problems,” said Scrape TV Health analyst Rebecca Phelps. “The best thing for many of these protestors really would be to just remain calm and try to discuss the issue like rational human beings. Getting up and yelling likely won’t achieve much in the way of changing the legislation and will only put them at serious risk of health problems.”

No one has yet passed out or died as a result of the protests but many medical professionals are concerned that it may only be a matter of time.

“The real fault may lie in the administration itself. By staging these town hall discussions they are setting the stage for a potentially lethal mix of outrage, idealism, and stupidity that will likely end up with someone who can least afford it going to the hospital or worse,” continued Phelps. “It’s great that the administration is trying to engage the public on a issue that affects them so intimately but no other government has done that in the past so there really is no reason to think that doing so now will have any kind of effect other than putting people’s health at risk. Of course a heart attack or two might turn those protestors into believers.”

Contrary to rumour the administration has not been handing out jelly donuts or bottles of Pepsi at the rallies.    

Lauren Hebert, Health Correspondent

NEWS > HEALTH > DOCTORS CONCERNED HEALTH CARE OPPONENTS GETTING A LITTLE TOO EXCITED