Medicine, Its Marketplace, and the American Dream (Hardcover)

The current medical system in the United States is a chaotic blend of traditional medical practice, political ideologies and business solutions. Most approaches to health-care reform seek a solution that does not disturb these basic characteristics. But rational analysis reveals economic inconsistencies that cripple the system. Juxtaposed to this is the extraordinary promise of modern medical science. The objective in health-care reform, therefore, ought not to be to control its cost, but to assure the timely incorporation of these advances into the everyday practice of medicine. Ultimately, medicine's value to society lies in the healthier, longer lives lived by its people. To be meaningful, reform must achieve universal care based upon an equality that serves the rights of all. This is the marketplace described in this book.