Maggie's Farm

Good for the Old Doc. I count myself fortunate that I have always had kind and patient doctors caring for me, despite my obnoxious ways. Growing up abroad we had the safety net of socialized medicine in case of disaster (ie: job loss--could someone explain to me the logic of tying your health insurance to your employer? Private citizens should be able to deal-shop on their own for health insurance at the kind of reasonable rates charged to corporations.) but paid a benevolent and expert private M.D. to give more specialized care to the family lunatics. It worked.

In adult life I benefitted first from the de facto socialized medicine provided in college and grad school, which kept me alive despite more than a touch of the family curse. If you were YAVIS enough, you could get free counselling.

In the last 18 years I have seen the same internist, and later a specialist to keep the family curse manageable. Both are wise, long-suffering, and have kept me alive thru horrific times. I can fairly say that no medication can substitute for old fashioned knowledgeable care, the kind that only develops over years. You need somebody who knows all your wicked ways and coded language, who can tell when you are malingering or about to expire. I am convinced that both my M.D.s think me a head case, and I doubtless am. But their compassionate and respectful treatment of me has kept me alive.

HMOs and health care are only for the young and healthy who, like all vigorous animals, need only shots, perhaps birth control, and periodic checkups.

I should add that, despite the frequent ranting in these pages about the evils of socialized medicine, my family have been cared for by exceptionally dedicated and decent doctors within the evil maws of National Health. Their doctors pay house calls, earnestly talk for an hour at a time trans-atlantic with us about my parents' psycho-social needs, without ever a HIPAA form being brandished. My father has had the same doctor for 25 years, and they get caregiving by loving village girls who speak English, work hard, and don't steal the silver.

I realize that there must times when it royally sucks to be a physician these days, partially because of the excessive demands and expectations of us patients, partly because of liability, partly because of evil insurance, HMOs, etc. But it is a holy calling, albeit mundane and stressful in the details. There isn't another vocation I consider as valuable.

In my youth I was a minister. I would much rather my children became doctors, as another young relative already is (plans to do work in developing countries or the slums of her home). Believe they will do far more good than I was ever able to do with sermons and loving arms.