Question

Informal letter on health and medicine

Answer 1

Editor:

I have been practicing medicine for more than 40 years. I have witnessed a great many changes, some good and some not as good. My career began before CT scans were available and HMOs became popular. I have practiced in the Appalachian region of Eastern Kentucky and in the urban setting of Lawrence, MA.

I am writing to say that my experience makes it clear to me that this nation needs to provide health care to all its citizens. This is imperative based not only on the basic humanitarian standard that should direct our government's moving force, but also a purely reasonable basis to protect our national interest. We need to maintain a healthy population, just as we need to maintain an educated work force, to maintain our nation's greatness. The Affordable Care Act has flaws, but abandoning it and the people whose health it guarantees would be disastrous and endanger not only them but our country as well.

Paul Janson, MD

Lawrence, MA