| I have
chosen a broad and very controversial subject for this
section of my web site. Having spent the past 36
years in healthcare at various levels, I have,
essentially, spent my entire working life in one area or
another of healthcare. Although, I do not always
agree with conventional practices, I am not so out of
the main stream that there aren't other health
professionals who agree with my views. I tend to
view healthcare as I do life: "I am for whatever
works". My focus will be on the disease processes
that affect me, personally, and the areas of healthcare
where I have a level of expertise: breast cancer,
fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, nursing, medical
laboratory science and emergency medicine.
I, personally, believe
that it is a shame that the wealthiest nation in the
industrialized world does not have any program that
ensures basic healthcare for all of it's citizens.
In all of the United Kingdom, those afflicted with
serious illness not only receive their healthcare at no
cost, to them personally, they receive a portion of
their wages while undergoing treatment and unable to
work. Breast cancer does not mean financial ruin,
even for a household with one income, in these
countries. This is, of course, reflected in higher
taxes. Though this initially appears to be a
downside to universal healthcare, there have been
literally hundreds of studies showing that best outcomes
are achieved if illnesses and diseases are treated when
they first become evident. In the case of a
diabetic this could mean treating diabetes BEFORE the
situation requires the amputation of a foot or leg and
the patient is too debilitated to work.
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