Unbiased Analysis of Today's Healthcare Issues
Is the free market working? Looks like. Wal-mart just dropped its prices on pharmaceuticals. According to a Marketwatch article (“Wal-mart…“) : Wal-mart will fill prescriptions for as many as 350 generic drugs costing $10 for a 90-day supply Over 1000 over-the-counter drugs are priced at $4 or less. Many of these include Wal-mart own private…
Traditional economic theory suggests that when the price of a good falls, the amount supplied will fall as well. Most economists always assume that the supply curve is upward sloping. But that is not always the case in medical world. Because a physician serves both as the patient’s advisor and the supplier of medical treatment,…
“I mean, a man has to stand for something.” James Woodard, wrongfully convicted of killing his girlfriend 27 years ago, on why he did not lie and admit his guilt during one of the twelve times he came up for parole. The full story is on 60 Minutes.
Can we think of issues related to violent crime as basically similar to that of a contagious disease? This is the question an article in the N.Y. Times Magazine (“Blocking the Transmission of Violence“) attempts to answer. Violence may spread like an epidemic; murders lead to revenge killings, which lead to more revenge killings. Stopping…
Academic journals are places where medical practitioners can go to view the latest, most cutting-edge, medical technologies. These journals are peer reviewed and are supposed to be places where rigorous, unbiased research is conducted. Some of these articles may not be as unbiased as once thought. NPR’s Marketplace reports (“Drug Companies…“) that drug companies have…
“Perfect order is the forerunner of perfect horror.” Carlos Fuentes “Trade is a social act” John Stuart Mill
The New York Times reports (“Dental Clinics…“) that the American Dental Association’s branch in Alaska has filed a lawsuit to stop dental therapists from practicing. “The dental associations say they simply want to be sure that patients do not receive substandard care. But some dentists in public health programs contend that dentists in private practice…
The latest edition of the Health Wonk Review is up at the Medical Humanities Blog.
Increasing obesity rates have significant costs to society. An article in MSN Money (“What if no one were fat?“) claims that if, on average, each American was to lose 20 pounds, we would save $487 billion. Where is this number coming from? Savings on fuel for cars and airlines due to their lighter loads would…
Should employers provide health insurance to their employees? There are many reasons why they should. One is that employees are attracted to firms that offer health insurance, especially since their are tax and cost advantages to group health insurance purchased through an employer. Another reason is that if a worker becomes sick, that reduces productivity.…