Articles

The bulk of the following articles have been published at one time or another in Australian Private Doctor (now discontinued). Some of the earlier articles have been improved and later re-published - and so may appear more than once. It is hoped that virtually every medico-political issue of interest is covered in the current batch of articles. But, of course, times change and knowledge expands. It is anticipated, therefore, that new articles will be added and old ones further improved as time passes.


topics

free choice free will determinism medical workforce subspecialization division of labor standards direct billing doctor shopping overservicing medicare patient confidentiality compulsory reporting doctor-patient relationship medical records preventive health immunization professional organizations divisions of general practice resource allocation collectivisim violent patients nhs free health care. australian medical association health care access fundholding budget holding quality of care. female doctors workforce quality of care physician training health care rationing. tax churning welfare state health insurance property rights personal responsibility rural doctors health care rights medicaid private health insurance the environment climate change environmental protection tragedy of the commons. the public interest public goods aids pharmaceutical industry foreign aid free markets equality rationing. cooperation competition markets patient trust patient-doctor relationship 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professions doctors fees medical prices relative values studies rationing health services professional services review means testing bulk billing centralized control universal health insurance pharmaceutical companies markets for health care nurse practitioners kidney transplants allied health care justice law

Justice, Equality and The Rule of Law

Instead of relying on a definition of justice that relies (circularly) on government’s subjective classificatory choices aimed at achieving a particular state of affairs, we should rely on a definition that (non-circularly) depends on the justice or injustice of an individual’s acts in not being negligent, not breaching a duty and in respecting property rights.

Free Choice - Is There Such a Thing?

We have to believe in free will. We've got no choice. Isaac Singer. A practically credible position is to acknowledge a certain amount of determinism (otherwise we could not be influenced to make good moral choices) but not too much (otherwise no choice would make any difference).
As Published in The Australian Private Doctor Volume 17 Issue 7

Subspecialisation

A specialist is someone who know everything about something and nothing about anything else. The Devil's Dictionary. The make-up of the medical workforce ought to be determined by the choices that consumers make in markets.
As Published in The Australian Private Doctor Volume 17 Issue 7

Doctor Shopping

Give a man a free hand and he'll try to put it all over you. Mae West.
As Published in The Australian Private Doctor Volume 17 Issue 7

Patient Confidentiality

What is required if confidentiality is to be respected is a move away from centralized delivery systems for health care. It's a secret in the Oxford sense; you may tell it to only one person at a time. Oliver Franks.
As Published in The Australian Private Doctor Volume 17 Issue 7

Immunisation

Vaccination is the medical sacrament corresponding to baptism. Samuel Butler.When physicians are paid by government to achieve particular goals and patients are subjected to penalties for not making the choices preferred by government then the fine line between persuasion and coercion has been moved.
As Published in The Australian Private Doctor Volume 17 Issue 7

The General Practice Network

They ate at society from within like Erysichthon, the "tearer up of earth", who having destroyed the trees in the sacred grove of Demeter, was cursed by the goddess with an insatiable appetite and finally devoured himself attempting to satisfy his hunger. B. Tuchman: A Distant MirrorIf Divisions are to legitimately claim that they offer "valued" services and not just products discounted by the millions that come from government, then they should be prepared to operate in a market where consumer choices are genuine.
As Published in The Australian Private Doctor Volume 17 Issue 7

Collectivism brings out the worst in us - Violence in the NHS.

By Fred Hansen. The provision of "free" health care produces an impotent consumer who may understandably become irritated when what has been promised is not actually available.
As Published in The Australian Private Doctor Volume 17 Issue 7

Understanding the Doctors' Union

An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile - hoping that it will eat him last. Winston Churchill.The policies of the AMA have no underlying connecting principle but simply represent the outcomes of intra-organizational power struggles combined with a faulty perception of what is achievable.
As Published in The Australian Private Doctor Volume 17 Issue 7

Fundholding

Sunk in lucre's sordid charms. Alexander Pope. Fundholding is a good deal for Divisions since it establishes a reason for their existence, assures a secure funding source and increases their authority and power. It is a bad deal for everyone else.
As Published in The Australian Private Doctor Volume 17 Issue 7

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