In class, we watched the documentary Money and Medicine. What did you learn from the film that most surprised you? What, if anything, will you do differently as a result of seeing the film? What information from the film or personal experiences have shaped your perceptions of the American health care system? In the film, Dr. Elliot Fisher states,
One of the myths of American medicine is that we have to ration in order to reduce costs. I think our research shows that's absolutely not necessary. That if you look at some of the examples of great care around the country, it is possible to redesign our care in ways that are great for us as patients, and great for us as physicians, by the way, and that reduce the cost of care. This is about redesign, not rationing.
What does the term "ration" mean? Does Dr. Fisher use it the same way that Michael Tanner used it in "Not Enough Health Care to Go Around"? Is it true that we can avoid rationing by redesigning our health care system? How does America currently ration health care? Does the possibility of your doctor, hospital administrators, insurance executives, or politicians branding certain forms of medical treatment as "unnecessary," "overly aggressive," or "wasteful" worry you?