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A Doctors’ Strike?
The Rights of Doctors and Patients Are Under Attack by Washington
Washington politicians are poised to inject a massive, lethal dose of statism into the heart of healthcare:
The right of doctors and patients to make personal, private, and independent healthcare decisions that often have life or death consequences.
Since Ancient Greece, we have been well-served by a well-established tradition in which doctors and patients make healthcare decisions that (a) are informed by the professional training and experience of the doctor, and (b) are individually tailored to the unique needs of the patient.
We have been doing all of this for centuries without any uncaring, untrained government bureaucrats forcing us to do what they tell us to do.
The healthcare sector of the economy is already clogged with more government control than any other industry. This is a big part of the problem.
The massive dose of marxist medicine now coming from Washington would induce grave waves of arrhythmia - inflation, price controls, lower quality, doctor shortages, waiting periods, and rationing.
These disturbances would become so emotionally distressing to the American people that Alinsky-inspired statists — opportunists that they are — would be able to exploit each new “healthcare crisis” as another opportunity to inject another dose of marxist medicine into the system.
The right of doctors and patients to make personal, private, and independent healthcare decisions that often have life or death consequences.
Since Ancient Greece, we have been well-served by a well-established tradition in which doctors and patients make healthcare decisions that (a) are informed by the professional training and experience of the doctor, and (b) are individually tailored to the unique needs of the patient.
We have been doing all of this for centuries without any uncaring, untrained government bureaucrats forcing us to do what they tell us to do.
The healthcare sector of the economy is already clogged with more government control than any other industry. This is a big part of the problem.
The massive dose of marxist medicine now coming from Washington would induce grave waves of arrhythmia - inflation, price controls, lower quality, doctor shortages, waiting periods, and rationing.
These disturbances would become so emotionally distressing to the American people that Alinsky-inspired statists — opportunists that they are — would be able to exploit each new “healthcare crisis” as another opportunity to inject another dose of marxist medicine into the system.
Doctors Publish "Inalienable Rights Infringement Statement" on Health Care Reform Bills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Aug 01, 2009 – Doctors on Strike for Freedom in Medicine today issued an "Inalienable Rights Infringement Statement" ("IRIS") on the health care bills now brewing in Washington--bills they dubbed "PelosiObamaReidCare" ("PORC").
The IRIS, posted on the homepage of Doctors on Strike's website at http://www.doctorsonstrike.com, cites PORC for the following 10 violations of individual rights:
1. Forcing people to buy health insurance.
2. Forcing employers to provide health insurance for employees.
3. Forcing one group (wealthy, soda-drinkers, etc.) to pay for the health insurance of another group.
4. Forcing future generations to pay for the healthcare of the present generation.
5. Forcing patients to participate in a government-run plan.
6. Forcing doctors to participate in a government-run plan.
7. Forcing hospitals and other healthcare providers to participate in a government-run plan.
8. Forcing insurance companies to compete with a government-run plan.
9. Forcing insurance companies to write policies that offer coverage for specific conditions.
10. Forcing one group (older Americans on Medicare) to accept reduced benefits in order to fund other public health care plans.
Dr. Gregory Garamoni, Founder and Executive Director of Doctors on Strike, said, "Doctors, patients, and business owners all have the same inalienable individual rights recognized by the Declaration of Independence - the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The purpose of government is to secure our rights, not violate them. Our rights impose limitations on government."
Dr. Garamoni said, "PORC's unprecedented intrusiveness into the doctor-patient relationship and other aspects of our health care would violate our rights on a massive scale unknown in the history of America."
Doctors on Strike urges doctors, patients, and business owners to work together to put intense political pressure on Washington politicians to make sure they protect individual rights while reforming the healthcare system. Dr. Garamoni said people need to send the following message to our elected officials:
"Earth to politicians: Healthcare is not a right, doctors are not your slaves, businesses are not your banks, the wealthy are not your wet nurses, and patients are not your pawns."
The website for Doctors on Strike (http://www.doctorsonstrike.com) provides doctors, patients, and business owners with the "intellectual and political ammunition necessary to win the war against statism in medicine."
Activists will find links to an online "Petition to Protect Doctor-Patient Rights" and other petitions with similar messages. They will also find links to elected officials, including the influential "The Blue Dog Coalition," and sample messages of varying length.
# # #
| Doctors on Strike for Freedom in Medicine today issued an "Inalienable Rights Infringement Statement" on the health care bills now brewing in Washington, finding 10 violations of the individual rights recognized in The Declaration of Independence. |
PRLog (Press Release) – Aug 01, 2009 – Doctors on Strike for Freedom in Medicine today issued an "Inalienable Rights Infringement Statement" ("IRIS") on the health care bills now brewing in Washington--bills they dubbed "PelosiObamaReidCare" ("PORC").
The IRIS, posted on the homepage of Doctors on Strike's website at http://www.doctorsonstrike.com, cites PORC for the following 10 violations of individual rights:
1. Forcing people to buy health insurance.
2. Forcing employers to provide health insurance for employees.
3. Forcing one group (wealthy, soda-drinkers, etc.) to pay for the health insurance of another group.
4. Forcing future generations to pay for the healthcare of the present generation.
5. Forcing patients to participate in a government-run plan.
6. Forcing doctors to participate in a government-run plan.
7. Forcing hospitals and other healthcare providers to participate in a government-run plan.
8. Forcing insurance companies to compete with a government-run plan.
9. Forcing insurance companies to write policies that offer coverage for specific conditions.
10. Forcing one group (older Americans on Medicare) to accept reduced benefits in order to fund other public health care plans.
Dr. Gregory Garamoni, Founder and Executive Director of Doctors on Strike, said, "Doctors, patients, and business owners all have the same inalienable individual rights recognized by the Declaration of Independence - the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The purpose of government is to secure our rights, not violate them. Our rights impose limitations on government."
Dr. Garamoni said, "PORC's unprecedented intrusiveness into the doctor-patient relationship and other aspects of our health care would violate our rights on a massive scale unknown in the history of America."
Doctors on Strike urges doctors, patients, and business owners to work together to put intense political pressure on Washington politicians to make sure they protect individual rights while reforming the healthcare system. Dr. Garamoni said people need to send the following message to our elected officials:
"Earth to politicians: Healthcare is not a right, doctors are not your slaves, businesses are not your banks, the wealthy are not your wet nurses, and patients are not your pawns."
The website for Doctors on Strike (http://www.doctorsonstrike.com) provides doctors, patients, and business owners with the "intellectual and political ammunition necessary to win the war against statism in medicine."
Activists will find links to an online "Petition to Protect Doctor-Patient Rights" and other petitions with similar messages. They will also find links to elected officials, including the influential "The Blue Dog Coalition," and sample messages of varying length.
# # #
Inaction Is No Longer An Option
Our self-appointed “Quack-in-Chief,” strutting forward a bit too bouncily toward the nearest microphone, holding his head a bit too high, acting a bit too much like he is auditioning for a lead role as a doctor in a pilot TV series, “Obama’s Anatomy,” is engaging in political and economic malpractice by precipitously prescribing a massive dose of statism — exactly the wrong medicine at the wrong time for what ails our economy, in general, and our healthcare system, in particular.
Congress, overflowing with all too many dim-witted, quintessential quacks from the Left Wing, squatting in what can only be described as Washington’s version of a Holiday Inn Express, smartly offers ad nauseam their sycophantic second opinions on the Quack-in-Chief's oh-so-savvy, socialist-inspired, healthcare reforms.
The left-winged birds-of-a-feather in the media are flocking together, waddling around "The Chief Quack", sycophantically quacking the same quackery, ducking their obligation to air both sides of the healthcare debate, virtually assuring that a half-assed hatchling of a healthcare plan will soon be hatched.
The philosophical allies of freedom — rational self-interest and individualism — are unlikely to win a decisive battle any time soon against the philosophical allies of statism — altruism and collectivism.
Laissez-Faire!
Defeat Is Not An Option
Defeat Is Not An Option
Given this ominous political landscape, doctors and patients must stand together and act now to bring a halt to this leftist-led, lemming-like leap into healthcare hell.
We cannot in good conscience do nothing. We are all doctors now — doctors and patients alike. We must stand together because the health of our healthcare system is in the care of these Washington quacks!
Make no mistake: We are at war and defeat is not an option. Our lives are literally at stake!
We cannot in good conscience do nothing. We are all doctors now — doctors and patients alike. We must stand together because the health of our healthcare system is in the care of these Washington quacks!
Make no mistake: We are at war and defeat is not an option. Our lives are literally at stake!
Our Mission
On July 4, 2009, Doctors on Strike for Freedom in Medicine was established to take on the mission of preserving, protecting, and promoting individual rights and freedom in healthcare. We simultaneously issued a Declaration of Independence for Doctors and declared a philosophical and political war against the imminent government takeover of healthcare.
Doctors on Strike is establishing a rapidly growing national audience through our website, www.doctorsonstrike.com, where we supply doctors and patients with the philosophical and political ammunition to fight for their rights. Within the first three weeks, our website was visited by people from 756 cities in 40 countries around the world, including all 50 states in America. Our message is getting through to people interested in protecting the rights of doctors and patients.
Our most urgent goal is to defeat the statist healthcare reform legislation now being written by Congress.
Another immediate aim is to mobilize doctors to be prepared to go on strike against any new government-run healthcare plans.
Our longer term objective is to supply doctors and patients with the intellectual ammunition required to win the “philosophical war” against statism in medicine.
Doctors on Strike is establishing a rapidly growing national audience through our website, www.doctorsonstrike.com, where we supply doctors and patients with the philosophical and political ammunition to fight for their rights. Within the first three weeks, our website was visited by people from 756 cities in 40 countries around the world, including all 50 states in America. Our message is getting through to people interested in protecting the rights of doctors and patients.
Our most urgent goal is to defeat the statist healthcare reform legislation now being written by Congress.
Another immediate aim is to mobilize doctors to be prepared to go on strike against any new government-run healthcare plans.
Our longer term objective is to supply doctors and patients with the intellectual ammunition required to win the “philosophical war” against statism in medicine.
The founding of Doctors on Strike coincided with the 233rd anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Inspired by the genius of the Founding Fathers, our Declaration of Independence for Doctors recognizes that doctors and patients have inalienable rights; that the purpose of government is to protect these rights — not violate them; that rights impose limitations on government; that statism in healthcare violates these rights; that Washington’s plan to takeover healthcare would violate the rights of doctors and patients — the very heart of the healthcare system; that the Hippocratic Oath requires doctors to take action to prevent harm; and that doctors, patients, and elected officials need to act — now — to preserve, protect, and promote individual rights and freedom in medicine.
The Long-Term Objective: Winning The Philosophical War
Our longer range objective is to provide doctors and other healthcare professionals with a principled, vigorous defense of freedom in medicine based on a philosophy of rational self-interest, individualism, and capitalism.
Statism in healthcare — governmental infringement on the inalienable rights of patients and doctors — is the enemy of freedom in medicine. But statism is just the face of a broader alliance that includes the moral philosophy of altruism and the political philosophy of collectivism.
Statism in healthcare — governmental infringement on the inalienable rights of patients and doctors — is the enemy of freedom in medicine. But statism is just the face of a broader alliance that includes the moral philosophy of altruism and the political philosophy of collectivism.
Most of the arguments, advanced in the public debate on medicine, concern the economics of health care reform--the costs and benefits of doing this or that, for this or that group, facing this or that problem. Serious debate about the philosophical issues underlying government-run health care is unusual.
We need to focus more intellectual attention on the philosophical war in healthcare — the war between the axis of “force” (altruism — collectivism — statism) and the axis of freedom (rational self-interest — individualism — capitalism). Unless the philosophical issues are joined, the statists will surely win their long war against free market healthcare, while we, like Emperor Nero, foolishly fiddle with the economic issues.
To help doctors unite and wage a more effective philosophical war for free market medicine, Dr. Garamoni, a practicing psychologist with a background in philosophy, wrote The Declaration of Independence for Doctors and stockpiled an armory of intellectual ammunition from the Founding Fathers and other philosophical defenders of freedom. This material is located on the "Intellectual Ammunition" page.
We need to focus more intellectual attention on the philosophical war in healthcare — the war between the axis of “force” (altruism — collectivism — statism) and the axis of freedom (rational self-interest — individualism — capitalism). Unless the philosophical issues are joined, the statists will surely win their long war against free market healthcare, while we, like Emperor Nero, foolishly fiddle with the economic issues.
To help doctors unite and wage a more effective philosophical war for free market medicine, Dr. Garamoni, a practicing psychologist with a background in philosophy, wrote The Declaration of Independence for Doctors and stockpiled an armory of intellectual ammunition from the Founding Fathers and other philosophical defenders of freedom. This material is located on the "Intellectual Ammunition" page.
Call to Action:
Tell Your State Officials to Create A Constitutional Firewall Against Federal Health Care
Tell Your State Officials to Create A Constitutional Firewall Against Federal Health Care
On July 27, 2009, Florida several legislators (including my own State Representative, Ronald "Doc" Renuart) proposed a State Constitutional Amendment to thwart socialized medicine: HJR 37- Health Care Services: JOINT RESOLUTION by Plakon (CO-SPONSORS) Carroll; Dorworth; Drake; Ford; Hays; Hudson; O'Toole; Precourt; Renuart
Health Care Services: Proposes creation of s. 28, Art. X of State Constitution to prohibit laws or rules from compelling any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system; permit person or employer to purchase lawful health care services directly from health care provider; permit health care provider to accept direct payment from person or employer for lawful health care services; exempt persons, employers, and health care providers from penalties and fines for paying or accepting direct payment for lawful health care services; permit purchase or sale of health insurance in private health care systems; & specifies what amendment does not affect or prohibit.
On Election Day 2008, the citizens of Arizona narrowly defeated a similar measure, Proposition 101, the Freedom of choice in Health Care Act, which stated:
"Because all people should have the right to make decisions about their health care, no law shall be passed that restricts a person's freedom of choice of private health care systems or private plans of any type. No law shall interfere with a person's or entity's right to pay directly for lawful medical services, nor shall any law impose a penalty or fine, of any type, for choosing to obtain or decline health care coverage or for participation in any particular health care system or plan."
Contact your elected state officials--NOW--and urge them to do something similar in your state.
Health Care Services: Proposes creation of s. 28, Art. X of State Constitution to prohibit laws or rules from compelling any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system; permit person or employer to purchase lawful health care services directly from health care provider; permit health care provider to accept direct payment from person or employer for lawful health care services; exempt persons, employers, and health care providers from penalties and fines for paying or accepting direct payment for lawful health care services; permit purchase or sale of health insurance in private health care systems; & specifies what amendment does not affect or prohibit.
On Election Day 2008, the citizens of Arizona narrowly defeated a similar measure, Proposition 101, the Freedom of choice in Health Care Act, which stated:
"Because all people should have the right to make decisions about their health care, no law shall be passed that restricts a person's freedom of choice of private health care systems or private plans of any type. No law shall interfere with a person's or entity's right to pay directly for lawful medical services, nor shall any law impose a penalty or fine, of any type, for choosing to obtain or decline health care coverage or for participation in any particular health care system or plan."
Contact your elected state officials--NOW--and urge them to do something similar in your state.
Doctors Support Proposed Florida Amendment to Protect Rights of Doctors and Patients
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 29, 2009 – Doctors on Strike for Freedom in Medicine, a private organization that champions individual rights and freedom in medicine, today applauded the several Florida State legislators who on Monday proposed an amendment to the State Constitution intended to stop the federal government from taking over medicine.
“Washington politicians are poised to inject a massive, lethal dose of statism into the heart of healthcare--one that would violate the rights of doctors and patients to make personal, private, and independent healthcare decisions,” said Dr. Gregory Garamoni, founder of Doctors on Strike. “This 'statist medicine' would induce grave waves of arrhythmia - inflation, price controls, lower quality, doctor shortages, waiting periods, and rationing.”
“Doctors, patients, and law makers must stand together now to bring a halt to this leftist-led, lemming-like leap into healthcare hell,” Garamoni said. “We urge legislators all over the country to follow Florida’s lead by creating political firewalls in every state to protect us from any further federal infringement on states’ rights and individual liberty. ”
State Senator Carey Baker (R-Eustis) and State Representative Scott Plakon (R-Longwood) filed legislation (HJR 37- Health Care Services) on Monday to amend Florida's Constitution “to prohibit laws or rules from compelling any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system; permit person or employer to purchase lawful health care services directly from health care provider; permit health care provider to accept direct payment from person or employer for lawful health care services; exempt persons, employers, and health care providers from penalties and fines for paying or accepting direct payment for lawful health care services; permit purchase or sale of health insurance in private health care systems; and specifies what amendment does not affect or prohibit.”
"Today, we're drawing the line in the sand. It is bad enough that our federal government wants to choose your doctor and ration your treatment," Senator Baker said. "But to do so virtually in secret and in such a rush proves that the goal is not to get better health care but to get socialized health care."
“The federal government and its bureaucracies dictating who, when and what kind of treatment you receive is not reform at all,” said Representative Plakon. “We believe this unprecedented power-grab by President Obama and Congress is clearly not in the best interests of the citizens of Florida.”
“The proposed constitutional amendment may be the only way left to prevent the destruction of the independent practice of medicine that has served us so well for so many centuries,” said Dr. Garamoni.
# # #
| Doctors on Strike for Freedom in Medicine today applauded the Florida State legislators who proposed an amendment to the State Constitution that would thwart Washington’s plans to impose socialized medicine. |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 29, 2009 – Doctors on Strike for Freedom in Medicine, a private organization that champions individual rights and freedom in medicine, today applauded the several Florida State legislators who on Monday proposed an amendment to the State Constitution intended to stop the federal government from taking over medicine.
“Washington politicians are poised to inject a massive, lethal dose of statism into the heart of healthcare--one that would violate the rights of doctors and patients to make personal, private, and independent healthcare decisions,” said Dr. Gregory Garamoni, founder of Doctors on Strike. “This 'statist medicine' would induce grave waves of arrhythmia - inflation, price controls, lower quality, doctor shortages, waiting periods, and rationing.”
“Doctors, patients, and law makers must stand together now to bring a halt to this leftist-led, lemming-like leap into healthcare hell,” Garamoni said. “We urge legislators all over the country to follow Florida’s lead by creating political firewalls in every state to protect us from any further federal infringement on states’ rights and individual liberty. ”
State Senator Carey Baker (R-Eustis) and State Representative Scott Plakon (R-Longwood) filed legislation (HJR 37- Health Care Services) on Monday to amend Florida's Constitution “to prohibit laws or rules from compelling any person, employer, or health care provider to participate in any health care system; permit person or employer to purchase lawful health care services directly from health care provider; permit health care provider to accept direct payment from person or employer for lawful health care services; exempt persons, employers, and health care providers from penalties and fines for paying or accepting direct payment for lawful health care services; permit purchase or sale of health insurance in private health care systems; and specifies what amendment does not affect or prohibit.”
"Today, we're drawing the line in the sand. It is bad enough that our federal government wants to choose your doctor and ration your treatment," Senator Baker said. "But to do so virtually in secret and in such a rush proves that the goal is not to get better health care but to get socialized health care."
“The federal government and its bureaucracies dictating who, when and what kind of treatment you receive is not reform at all,” said Representative Plakon. “We believe this unprecedented power-grab by President Obama and Congress is clearly not in the best interests of the citizens of Florida.”
“The proposed constitutional amendment may be the only way left to prevent the destruction of the independent practice of medicine that has served us so well for so many centuries,” said Dr. Garamoni.
# # #
Call to Action:
Doctors Must Prepare to Go on Strike
Doctors Must Prepare to Go on Strike
We are calling on doctors to be prepared to go on strike against more government-run healthcare.
Doctors need to let the country know - now - that if the President signs any legislation that establishes another government healthcare plan, they will "go on strike":
Doctors will refuse to participate in any new government healthcare plan, and
Doctors will resign from all government healthcare programs, including, but not limited to Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE.
The hope is that the preemptory promise of a doctors' strike would mobilize enough public opinion to persuade our lawmakers to vote against the so-called public option. If the public knew in advance that doctors were planning to strike, elected officials might be flooded with calls, emails, and letters from their constituents. Widespread knowledge of an impending doctors' strike is critical to mobilize groups to act to protect their interests.
The message for the country is this: The Atlases of medicine, who take at least 12 years — and often more — of their lives to learn how to save your lives, absolutely refuse to shoulder any more government control over our practices.
Enough is enough!
This time we are finally drawing a line in the sand.
If Congress and the Administration cross it, we are fully prepared and firmly resolved to shrug and unburden ourselves of the unbearable weight that government regulations impose on us.
When the dust settles, Doctors and patients might then champion a new ethic of voluntary trade to govern their relationships in a free market — “The Traders Oath,” inspired by John Galt, the hero in Ayn Rand’s best selling novel, Atlas Shrugged:
I will forever defend the right of every doctor, every patient, every human being
To be treated as a trader among traders, not a slave under masters, nor a master over slaves.”
This time we are finally drawing a line in the sand.
If Congress and the Administration cross it, we are fully prepared and firmly resolved to shrug and unburden ourselves of the unbearable weight that government regulations impose on us.
When the dust settles, Doctors and patients might then champion a new ethic of voluntary trade to govern their relationships in a free market — “The Traders Oath,” inspired by John Galt, the hero in Ayn Rand’s best selling novel, Atlas Shrugged:
I will forever defend the right of every doctor, every patient, every human being
To be treated as a trader among traders, not a slave under masters, nor a master over slaves.”
Call to Action:
Sign Our Online Petition to Protect The Rights of Doctors And Patients
Sign Our Online Petition to Protect The Rights of Doctors And Patients
We recently created a Petition to Protect Doctor-Patient Rights, which will be submitted to Congress and calls on legislators to oppose legislation that provides for any:
- Public plan option,
- Mandates that force individuals to buy insurance coverage,
- Mandates that force employers to provide insurance coverage,
- Tax surcharges that force some groups to pay for the healthcare of other groups, and
- Mandates that force doctors to participate in public plans.
Call to Action:
Sign Other Online Petitions to Oppose A Government Takeover of Healthcare
Sign Other Online Petitions to Oppose A Government Takeover of Healthcare
"I, the undersigned citizen of the United States, petition the U.S. Congress to stop any increased role of the government into my health care decisions. I also petition the U.S. Congress to protect my right to choose my own doctors and hospitals without delay or denial, to obtain care that is patient-centered, and to have health insurance that is personal, portable and best suits my needs."
"I urge you to oppose any legislation that imposes greater government control over my health care that would mean fewer choices for me and my family and even deny treatments to those in need. Congress must not let government get between my family and my doctor. Please protect patient freedom and expand our health care options with real reforms – focused on patients, not on politics.”
Physicians can no longer allow medical care in this country to be controlled by government and insurance companies Current reform options purport be “cure-alls” for every American. But we know that every patient is different, and just like patients, there is not single big-government solution to change health care in this country. Instead, we need more diversity in solutions. Therefore, I support changes that address the following issues:
1. INDEPENDENCE: Doctors are professionals. They answer to their patients, not the government or an insurance company or any other third party. Treatments should be decided by doctor and patient exclusively.
2. VALUE OUR SERVICES: Physicians have a right to be paid a market-based fee for their services, and to be paid at the time of service or within a reasonable period.
3. DOCTORS ARE NOT INSURANCE BILLING CLERKS: Physicians should not be forced to act as billing or collection agents for third-parties, whether private insurance or the government.
4. REGULATIONS GET BETWEEN PHYSICIANS & PATIENTS: Excessive regulatory burden on physicians is interfering with patient care. We must decrease regulations, not pass more.
5. LIABILITY COSTS MUST BE REDUCED: Costly defensive treatment and tests, and predatory litigation result in excessive liability costs for physicians and patients alike.
6. AUTONOMY: Neither physicians nor patients should be forced to participate in government nor private health care plans or programs.
7. RIGHT TO CONTRACT: Neither physicians nor patients should be prohibited from entering into mutually agreeable private contracts for services and payments.
8. PRIVACY: Physicians must not be forced to disclose patient records without the express consent of patients.
1. INDEPENDENCE: Doctors are professionals. They answer to their patients, not the government or an insurance company or any other third party. Treatments should be decided by doctor and patient exclusively.
2. VALUE OUR SERVICES: Physicians have a right to be paid a market-based fee for their services, and to be paid at the time of service or within a reasonable period.
3. DOCTORS ARE NOT INSURANCE BILLING CLERKS: Physicians should not be forced to act as billing or collection agents for third-parties, whether private insurance or the government.
4. REGULATIONS GET BETWEEN PHYSICIANS & PATIENTS: Excessive regulatory burden on physicians is interfering with patient care. We must decrease regulations, not pass more.
5. LIABILITY COSTS MUST BE REDUCED: Costly defensive treatment and tests, and predatory litigation result in excessive liability costs for physicians and patients alike.
6. AUTONOMY: Neither physicians nor patients should be forced to participate in government nor private health care plans or programs.
7. RIGHT TO CONTRACT: Neither physicians nor patients should be prohibited from entering into mutually agreeable private contracts for services and payments.
8. PRIVACY: Physicians must not be forced to disclose patient records without the express consent of patients.
Call to Action:
Tell Your Legislators to Oppose HR3962
Tell Your Legislators to Oppose HR3962
When the House of Representatives first published HR3200: America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009, we finally learned who is going pay for healthcare reform:
Doctors and patients are going to "pay" in the form of lost freedom.
We are now urging you to oppose HR3962: “The Affordable Health Care for America Act” because this 1,990-page behemoth is -- like HR3200 -- too expensive, too intrusive, too impractical, and is again being rammed down our throats.
To this end, Doctors on Strike is actively encouraging doctors and patients to put intense political pressure on legislators during their deliberations on healthcare reform. We supply doctors and patients with the intellectual and political ammunition to do this.
The “Political Ammunition” page of our website provides convenient ways to communicate our message to legislators.
We provide links to the contact information on every senator and representative. A special page is devoted to the influential Blue Dog Coalition--to our knowledge, the most complete resource on the internet.
We also supply sample messages of varying length that you can use to tell Congress to protect the rights of doctors and patients to make private healthcare decisions without any government interference.
If you have the stomach for it, click here to read HR3200.
Doctors and patients are going to "pay" in the form of lost freedom.
We are now urging you to oppose HR3962: “The Affordable Health Care for America Act” because this 1,990-page behemoth is -- like HR3200 -- too expensive, too intrusive, too impractical, and is again being rammed down our throats.
To this end, Doctors on Strike is actively encouraging doctors and patients to put intense political pressure on legislators during their deliberations on healthcare reform. We supply doctors and patients with the intellectual and political ammunition to do this.
The “Political Ammunition” page of our website provides convenient ways to communicate our message to legislators.
We provide links to the contact information on every senator and representative. A special page is devoted to the influential Blue Dog Coalition--to our knowledge, the most complete resource on the internet.
We also supply sample messages of varying length that you can use to tell Congress to protect the rights of doctors and patients to make private healthcare decisions without any government interference.
If you have the stomach for it, click here to read HR3200.
Call to Action:
Tell The Blue Dogs to Oppose HR3962
"A vote against HR3962 would be an act that respects the rights of patients, doctors, and business owners! A vote for HR3962 would be an unnecessary, career-ending act of political suicide!"
The fiscally conservative 52 members of Democratic Blue Dog Coalition in the House of Representatives appear to have the power to defeat HR3962.
We want all 52 of the Blue Dogs shown in the above animation to listen to our message. To that end, we added a special website page devoted to the 51 members of the Blue Dog Coalition, which provides the names, pictures, and contact information on each Blue Dog.
We have also compiled a list of the Washington phone numbers along with a complete list of the Washington and District fax numbers for all 52 members of the influential Democratic Blue Dog Coalition.
Many of these legislators block email from people outside of the district they serve. That leaves us with the options of calling or faxing them.
We are encouraging doctors and patients from all over America to call, email, or fax the Blue Dogs to urge them to reform healthcare in a fiscally and ethically responsible manner that fully respects the rights of doctors and patients to make healthcare decisions without any government interference.
We want all 52 of the Blue Dogs shown in the above animation to listen to our message. To that end, we added a special website page devoted to the 51 members of the Blue Dog Coalition, which provides the names, pictures, and contact information on each Blue Dog.
We have also compiled a list of the Washington phone numbers along with a complete list of the Washington and District fax numbers for all 52 members of the influential Democratic Blue Dog Coalition.
Many of these legislators block email from people outside of the district they serve. That leaves us with the options of calling or faxing them.
We are encouraging doctors and patients from all over America to call, email, or fax the Blue Dogs to urge them to reform healthcare in a fiscally and ethically responsible manner that fully respects the rights of doctors and patients to make healthcare decisions without any government interference.
November 6, 2009
Dear Honorable Leaders and Members of the Congressional Blue Dog Coalition:
We are urging you to oppose HR 3962: “The Affordable Health Care for America Act” because this 1,990-page behemoth is -- like HR 3200 -- too expensive, too intrusive, too impractical, and is being rammed down our throats.
We ask that you vote against HR 3962 because it contains so many poisonous provisions -- ones that are patently immoral, arguably unconstitutional, fiscally irresponsible, demonstrably ineffective, and, as recent polls show, politically unpopular in the context of 10.2% unemployment and staggering deficits.
Angry constituents this past summer made it clear to Members of Congress, including the Blue Dogs, that HR3200 was too expensive, too intrusive, too impractical -- and was then being rushed too quickly through the House of Representatives for Members of Congress and their constituents to comprehend the intended and unintended consequences of this bill on our health care system and our faltering economy.
We at Doctors on Strike for Freedom in Medicine were among those angry constituents at Tea Parties, Town Hall Meetings, and internet discussion forums.
We are a grassroots coalition of patients, doctors, and business owners founded on July 4, 2009 to encourage health care reforms that preserve, protect, and promote individual rights and freedom in health care.
Launched four months ago on July 4th, our website has been visited by 9609 times by 8005 people from 2495 cities in 79 countries around the world, including all 50 states in America.
Our message is getting through to Blue Dog constituents, who rightly expect you to safeguard the rights of patients, doctors, and business owners from any governmental intrusion during the health care reform process.
Over 600 people have thus far signed our recently posted “Petition to Protect Doctor and Patient Rights” to urge Congress to vote against any legislation that provides for any:
- Public option,
- Mandates that force individuals to buy insurance coverage,
- Mandates that force employers to provide insurance coverage,
- Surcharges that force some groups to pay for the healthcare of other groups, and
- Provisions that might allow HHS to force doctors to participate in public plans.
About 97% of the petitioners have responded “Yes” to the question: “Should doctors ‘go on strike’ by refusing to participate in any new government-run healthcare plan?”
Another 86% of the petitioners have responded “Yes” to the question: “If ObamaCare is approved, should doctors ‘go on strike’ by stopping their participation in other government-run healthcare plans (Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, SCHIP)?”
We invite you to read and sign this petition at http://www.doctorsonstrike.com/petitiontoprotectdoctor-patientrights.html.
If you do not find these arguments against HR 3962 persuasive, we would appeal to your political self-interest to vote against HR 3962 and whatever health care reform bill that might eventually emerge from a conference of both Houses of Congress.
Think about how many different groups of likely voters will be hurt by HR 3962 and angry at you if you vote for HR 3962:
- Voters on Medicare will be hurt by and angry about cuts in Medicare,
- Young and healthy voters will be hurt by and angry about individual mandates,
- Physicians and other health care providers will resent government intrusion into their decision-making and reduced Medicare payments,
- Business owners will be hurt by and angry about the mandate to provide insurance for employees and the surcharge on wealthy business owners,
- Wealthy voters will resent the surcharge on their income taxes,
- Groups of voters targeted for increased taxes to fund HR 3962 will resent these taxes, and
- Millions of health care policy holders will resent having to pay significantly higher premiums, losing the insurance coverage provided by their employers, or losing access to their doctors as a result of taxes on insurance policies, costly mandated coverage by HHS, and shrinking risk pools.
Think about the possibility that these voters would be so hurt by HR 3962 that Republicans, Libertarians, and Ross Perot-style Independents could easily mobilize them to vote many incumbent Democrats out of office in 2010 and 2012.
Think about the electoral consequences of forcing Americans to buy expensive health insurance while they learn that Congress has failed to address the root causes of rising health care costs.
Think about how -- as our economy continues to falter in 2010 and beyond -- the 2009 Tea Parties and Town Hall Meetings would be dwarfed by a rapidly spreading, Dresden-like firestorm of popular resistance to any more federal intrusion into our lives.
Think about how HR 3962 would be a prescription for economic, health care, and electoral disaster: Surely, a bad bill would be worse than no bill, not only for our economy and our health care system, but also for your political career.
Finally, think about this: A Blue Dog voting for HR 3962 might very well be committing an unnecessary, career-ending act of political suicide.
Dr. Gregory Garamoni
Doctors on Strike for Freedom
http://www.doctorsonstrike.com
P.S. We are encouraging patients, doctors, and business owners from all over America to call, email, or fax the Blue Dogs to urge you to reform health care in a fiscally and ethically responsible manner that fully respects the rights of doctors and patients to make health care decisions without any government interference. To this end, we have compiled a list of the 52 members of the Blue Dog Coalition, along with your pictures, Washington phone numbers, and fax numbers.
Visit this url to find your picture on our website: http://www.doctorsonstrike.com/bluedogcoalition.html
Doctors on Strike for Freedom in Medicine urges the Blue Dog Coalition to oppose HR3200 because this bill is an immoral, unconstitutional violation of the right of doctors and patients to make private, personal, and independent healthcare decisions. |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – Jul 29, 2009 – Dear Honorable Leaders and Members of The Blue Dog Coalition:
As a healthcare professional and the leader of a national campaign to protect the rights of doctors and patients, I urge you to vote against HR3200: America's Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009.
On July 4, 2009, I founded a new organization, Doctors on Strike for Freedom in Medicine (www.doctorsonstrike.com), to take on the mission of preserving, protecting, and promoting freedom in healthcare. We simultaneously issued a Declaration of Independence for Doctors and declared a philosophical and political war against more governmental intrusion into healthcare.
Doctors on Strike is establishing a rapidly growing national audience through our internet presence at www.doctorsonstrike.com, where we supply doctors and patients with the philosophical and political ammunition to fight for their rights. Launched three weeks ago, our website has been visited by people from 882 cities in 42 countries around the world, including all 50 states in America. Our message is getting through to people interested in protecting individual rights in healthcare.
We hope this communication will get our message through to each member of the Democratic Blue Dog Coalition.
Doctors on Strike is based on the principles that:
- Doctors and patients have the same inalienable individual rights that all human beings have — the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;
- The purpose of government is to secure these rights, not violate them;
- Rights impose limitations on government;
- Government intrusion into healthcare violates these rights;
- HR3200 would violate these rights, be fiscally irresponsible, and gravely threaten the viability of the healthcare system; and
- Doctors, patients, and elected officials need to act — now — to preserve, protect, and promote individual rights and freedom in medicine.
Our most pressing goal for 2009 is to help defeat HR3200 and other statist healthcare reform proposals now circulating in Washington. To this end, Doctors on Strike is actively encouraging doctors and patients to put intense political pressure on legislators during your deliberations on healthcare reform. We supply our national audience with the intellectual and political ammunition to do this.
We provide links to the contact information on every senator and representative. You should know that we just added a special website page devoted to the 51 members of the Blue Dog Coalition, which provides the names, pictures, and contact information on each Blue Dog. We are encouraging doctors and patients to urge the Blue Dogs to reform healthcare in a fiscally responsible manner and with due respect for the right of doctors and patients.
As the 2010 election cycle approaches, we will identify and publicly support those candidates for elected offices at the state and federal level who champion individual rights in healthcare. We hope you will be one of them.
We will also unhesitatingly identify and publicly target for defeat any candidates who support legislation that violates individual rights. We just created a page on our website, “Targeted for Defeat in 2010,” with this goal in mind.
We recently created an online Petition to Protect Doctor-Patient Rights, which will be submitted to Congress and calls on legislators to oppose legislation that provides for any:
- Public plan option,
- Mandates that force individuals to buy insurance coverage,
- Mandates that force employers to provide insurance coverage,
- Surcharges that force some groups to pay for the healthcare of other groups, and
- Mandates that force doctors to participate in public plans.
(Petition is at
http://www.doctorsonstrike.com/petitiontoprotectdoctor-p ...)
We are also encouraging doctors to prepare themselves to go on strike against government-run healthcare programs. We want doctors to let the country know now that, if the President signs legislation to establish a new government healthcare plan, they will refuse to participate in any such plan and will also stop participating in all other government healthcare programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, and SCHIP.
Our blog, "Doctors on Strike," regularly posts news and opinions on healthcare reform. Last week we posted the news that the House Ways and Means Committee, marking up the Health bill:
- Rejected 25-15 an amendment from Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) that would have eliminated the public plan option;
- Rejected 22-19 amendment from Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) that would have prevented providers from being forced to participate in the public plan;
- Rejected 21-18 an amendment from Rep. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) that would have required members of Congress and their dependents to enroll in the public plan option;
- Rejected 21-19 an amendment from Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) that would have based payment rates on the private market, rather than on Medicare;
- Rejected 26-15 an amendment by Rep. Wally Herger (R-Calif.) that would have prevented comparative effectiveness research from being used to deny care based on cost.
This information made it absolutely clear to our audience that those Democrats in Congress who support HR3200 are poised to inject a massive, lethal dose of statism into the brain of our healthcare system--the independent practice of medicine--a long-established, well-tested tradition in which doctors and patients exercise their right to make personal and private healthcare decisions that are informed by the professional training and experience of the doctor and tailored to the unique needs of the patient--without the forceful intrusion of government bureaucrats. We fear that this massive dose of statism will induce a wave of “seizures” in the healthcare economy — inflation, price controls, doctor shortages, waiting periods, and rationing. This is clearly the wrong medicine at the wrong time for the faltering economy, in general, and the over-regulated healthcare sector, in particular.
In your deliberations on healthcare reform, we respectfully ask you to demonstrate your respect for the rights of doctors and patients by opposing any government option, mandates for individual insurance coverage, mandates for employer coverage, tax surcharges, and requirement for doctors to participate in a public option. These provisions are immoral, unconstitutional violations of our rights as doctors and patients. These provisions are also fiscally irresponsible.
We urge you instead to support and vote for legislation to decrease the federal regulation of the entire healthcare industry. The burdens of federal and state control are stifling competition and innovation among insurance companies and other healthcare providers. They are a major cause of inflation in healthcare goods and services.
We understand that many of you are considering running for reelection. If your vote(s) reflect fiscal responsibility and respect the rights of doctors and patients, we will openly and vigorously support your reelection. If your vote(s) are fiscally irresponsible and violate the rights and doctors and patients, we may have no choice but to support your opponent.
We hope you make the right choice for freedom in America.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
Respectfully,
Dr. Gregory L. Garamoni
Founder & Executive Director, Doctors on Strike for Freedom in Medicine
2304 Sawgrass Village Drive
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
904-631-3939
www.doctorsonstrike.com
garamoni@gmail.com
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