Journal Week 5

This week’s discussion brought out a lot of opinions and perspectives in subject matters that I was not well-versed in. It gave me the opportunity to think critically about topics that are affecting our world right now. Especially the discussion on socialized medicine considering the world climate we are presently in. I would like to begin this week’s journal entry discussing socialized medicine. In our group discussion on of our group members gave an extremely detailed outline regarding socialized medicine along with his thoughts concerning it. I found that to be so helpful as it was the prefect foundation for the rest of our group’s discussion. As a group we all were of the opinion that we did not want socialized medicine. One of the main points we discussed in our group and so it also in the class wide discussion was the idea of the government and its role in socialized medicine. The United States in some ways in already participating in forms of free healthcare through programs such state prison healthcare, Medicare, military medicine, Indian health services, and state funded free healthcare. What sets these services apart from a socialized medicine system is not all aspects of the process is governed by one body. In socialized medicine the government has complete control and authority over every aspect of the healthcare system from funding down to the actual facility. The way this would be funded would be through taxes. While I was reading up on socialized medicine some of the literature was clear to make a distinction between socialized medicine and universal medicine/healthcare. Universal healthcare was described as simply having access to healthcare but did not include the facilities, providers, and hospitals. In my opinion having a socialized medical system where the government is solely responsible for everything is not wise and not fair to the taxpayers. I also think there will be a loss of accountability in this kind of approach who is holding the government accountable for the actions and policies with the authority to make changes. It quickly becomes a political mess in my opinion. Another aspect of socialized medicine to consider is how does this affect healthcare professionals? Will they be properly compensated for the amount of time that have invested in their careers. Beside the compensation will there be enough professionals to service everyone. There is also this idea of rationing that was brought up during our class discussion. There is no way to know if a sort of hierarchy system in determining who gets care first will arise. One of my main concerns with this approach is how will the quality of care be affected. Quality care doesn’t just refer to a healthcare professional being good or bad but their ability to make decisions and provide customized care for their patients. Physicians are uniquely made to problem solve and would being under a socialized structure inhibit them from using creative approaches. In contrast to all the cons I have discussed above I can understand why this approach seems appealing to some. Healthcare is extremely expensive and can be crippling to some especially if situations where you require more than just the regular checkup. I think there are other avenues to explore first to address healthcare in our country that begins with looking to ways to adjust taxes for businesses and make it more affordable for them to provide healthcare to their employees and maybe even lower cost for healthy individuals that might not require as much traditional healthcare as others. I do know of some insurance companies that are taking a similar approach the only caveat is when you get sick it gets very expensive very quickly. Healthcare is absolutely an industry looking to not only tend to the physical needs but

also make money so maybe reform starts there in the place between helping and making money. The second question we addressed as a group was concerning prayer. Prescriptions, and pastoral care. I really liked these questions because it hits on something so real for everyone. Sometimes the cast studies we are discussing seem a little abstract and far away but this question I think is applicable to everyone and everyone no matter their background can speak to it. My thoughts on the matter immediately start with a combo approach. I think that all of these things when working together can do some amazing things. Something that one has to consider when approaching this question is perspective and more specifically the perspective of the patient who will come in a variety of forms. As a believer I completely support and incorporate prayer in my professional and personal life. I think that prayer and pastoral care coupled with prescriptions is extremely important when treating individuals physically and mentally. I think we also have to consider this question in terms of our patient and what environment we are talking about. Obviously if we are in an environment that allows for prayer and pastoral care integration then absolutely as a believer, I think it is necessary. I am a strong advocate in using medication when necessary because I think medicine and doctors are truly gifts from God. One of our group members mentioned in discussion that even the secular world is interacting with some form of prayer or meditation and have found a since of peace doing this. In Matthew 17:20 it says “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. (NLT). This to me exemplifies the importance of prayer and the strength that comes with it. In a clinical professional setting, my religious beliefs have to take a back seat to treating the patient unless I an in an environment where this acceptable. I don’t ever want to push my faith on anyone and attack their belief system. This does not mean that a physician cant in private prayer for his/hers patients or ask God for guidance when handling cases but it does mean that we should not do anything that will make a patient uncomfortable. Another thought that was brought up during the class discussion and was directed at me specifically concerning having a Muslim patient who wanted prayer and asked what my approach would be if I was that patient. The actual question was as follows: what would you do if you were a Muslim patient and needed pastor care, and the only pastor in the hospital in Pentecostal being that you were admitted into a Pentecostal hospital? Is it against your religion to accept prayers from outsiders of the religion? Do you accept medication and treatment due to your religion? This is how I responded: I am strong believer in knowing and having a working knowledge of scripture. If the scenario that you have presented, I have actually been able to experience as a friend of mind whose parent was Muslim found herself on her death bed in a hospital with a chaplain service. She in spite of her religion asked to see the chaplain and prayed with him. In moments where an individual is wanting and asking for prayer then by all means provide them with prayer and support. God and prayer is available to all if they want it. In regard to treatment and medication this decision is left in the hands of the patient. I cannot speak on behalf of a Muslim patient because I do not know all the ends and outs of their

things make us feel that I think some especially our younger generation have trouble figuring out what to do when they do not “feel good.” The issue I have with one thinking they must feel good all the time is how we as a society are responded to it. I think it is creating an avenue for abuse within the mental health arena where you have individuals who are using the lack of feeling good to point towards a disorder when it really might just be you’re not getting what you want. Life is hard and isn’t meant to be easy all the time. I am not discrediting those who are truly suffering from mental illness, but I think those who are attempting to live life simply on a feeling are making it harder to address those truly suffering.