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babylonsister Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 12:08 PM
Original message
Another Doctor Puts Politics Ahead Of Patients
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_04/023352.php

snip//

Dr. Jack Cassell, an Orlando-area urologist and part-time Republican crank, became a national laughing stock a couple of weeks ago when he announced that patients who support President Obama should seek medical attention elsewhere. Cassell later conceded he doesn't really know anything about the health care reform law he hates so much.

Now, apparently, there's another. Ben Armbruster reports:

Arizona Dermatologist Joseph Scherzer put a sign outside his office warning his patients that he will be closing his doors because of the new law. "If you voted for Obamacare, be aware these doors will close before it goes into effect," the sign reads. Scherzer -- a self-described conservative -- claims that the "stress" the law will supposedly impose will cause him to close up shop.


Seriously. The dermatologist said government-prescribed treatment methods is causing him so much anxiety, he won't be able to practice medicine. "The stress is what would push me out the door," Scherzer said. He added that some medical professionals "have actually committed suicide over these things."

As a factual matter, no one seems to be able to figure exactly which government-prescribed treatment methods he's so worked up about, since the law doesn't mandate any specific methods at all. Indeed, if the Affordable Care Act were going to cause any undue hardships for medical professionals, it wouldn't have been endorsed by the American Medical Association.

Doctors, by and large, have certainly earned their exalted status in society, but that doesn't mean there aren't a few bizarre apples in the bunch.

—Steve Benen
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supernova Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 12:11 PM
Response to Original message
1. They're doing us a favor
this GOP MD rubes by closing their doors.

They're showing us their true colors and openly admitting that having that license was never about caring for people, it was about making money and having that midweek tee time.

Good riddance and make room for someone else who does want to care for people, then enjoy some quality offtime of whatever pleasures suit them.
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HopeHoops Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 12:15 PM
Response to Original message
2. They obviously get their opinions from FOX. Makes you wonder where they got their degrees.
:shrug:
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SocialistLez Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 12:22 PM
Response to Original message
3. I guess he's never heard of PNHP
See ya doc.

Dermatologists are overpaid anyway.

The one I used to see used to count my pimples, measure some of them and write me a prescription in all of 10 minutes. He was paid $200+ by my insurance company and he wanted to see me every 6 weeks. Hmmmm....I wonder why.
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LeftinOH Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 12:25 PM
Response to Original message
4. "government-prescribed treatment methods" are causing him anxiety? Such as?
-and "some medical professionals have committed suicide". Bullshit. And how incredibly unprofessional.
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mwrguy Donating Member (396 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 12:53 PM
Response to Original message
5. They should be prosecuted.
Or at least boycotted.
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deaniac21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 12:59 PM
Response to Original message
6. The Mayo Clinic won't accept medicare. How's that for a
statement. Is it the hippocratic oath or the hypocritical oath?
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sinkingfeeling Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 01:05 PM
Response to Reply #6
9. No exactly true. Here's what Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN says.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/billing-rst/faqs2.html

When claims are sent to Medicare on a non-assigned basis, the benefits for the services are sent directly to the patient. Mayo Clinic is entitled to bill the patient for the difference between our billed amount and Medicare's approved amount. We do not have to accept Medicare's approved amount as payment in full. Mayo Clinic limits its charges according to the limits set forth by HCFA for the Medicare program. Mayo hospital claims are sent assigned.
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deaniac21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 01:07 PM
Response to Reply #9
10. In other words, they will only accept wealthy patients.
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sinkingfeeling Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 01:28 PM
Response to Reply #10
12. That's not what that says, but have it your way.
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deaniac21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 04:14 PM
Response to Reply #12
15. That is effectively what it does.
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sinkingfeeling Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 01:00 PM
Response to Original message
7. Dear Dr. Scherzer, Close up or shut up! No more of this 'would push me' or 'will close'.
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blogslut Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 01:03 PM
Response to Original message
8. Translation:
"I ran my business into the ground and no amount of acne-riddled teenagers can save me so I'm closing up shop and blaming it on Obama."
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Sheepshank Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 01:18 PM
Response to Original message
11. And he is the one that throws in the towel because of stress?
claims that the "stress" the law will supposedly impose will cause him to close up shop.

Seriously?...all those that lose homes and take out bankrupcy because of medical bills also have stress, buck. Would be nice if that illness and medical stress happened to coincide with retirement, and HCR, so that some of the stress is reduced for patients.

He's retiring because of stress? And just what stress would that be, buck?
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Lucy Goosey Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 01:28 PM
Response to Original message
13. Medical professionals "have actually committed suicide over these things." Really?
Somehow I doubt that. Or, at least, any doctor who committed suicide claiming "Obamacare" as the reason was already pretty screwed up before HCR passed.
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Bitwit1234 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 01:34 PM
Response to Original message
14. And would YOU really trust a doctor who only gave good
treatment to the people who voted for HIS party. Not I. I would run from the S.O.B. as fast as I could. A real doctor treats everybody the same.
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