Discussion of how the federally pending "Patients' Bill of Rights"
(PBOR) bill impacts on the struggle for universal health care (UHC) and to what extent
it avoids or deters dealing with more important and urgent matters of reform. Be
sure to read the plea for unity in the UHC struggle.
Initiating statement by Uwe Reinhardt that
PBOR is a diversion from the three essential and urgent needs in the U.S. health
care system.
Response by Ted Marmor. First
that there is no evidence to indicate energy is being diverted away from the
struggle for UHC by PBOR and second that steps in the right direction are
usually useful.
Ted Marmor responds to
Saul Friedman. First
that there is no evidence to indicate energy is being diverted away from the
struggle for UHC by PBOR and second that steps in the right direction are
usually useful.
Response (part one) by Ellen Shaffer. Explaining further how
evidence does not indicate a diversion of energy away from UHC by PBOR and
furthermore how certain events may be opening new possibilities in organizing
for UHC.
Response by R. Castellenbach that the PBOR is
weak and will likely bring little improvement. However, it might still
bring energy to movement for UHC.
A plea for unity in a renewed and sustained movement for UHC in the
United States by Philip Pollner, Nancy Wooten and Don McCanne.
Support for unity while commiting to a sustained effort towards
non-incremental universal health care by Dennis Lazof.
Uwe Reinhardt:
"I think it was a ridiculous diversion of political energy that distracts from the truly shocking problems of the American health care system -- the uninsured, the elderly without drugs and the medical error problem."
Uwe Reinhardt, Princeton University
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