MuskogeePhoenix.com, Muskogee, OK

Opinion

Discussion

March 6, 2013

THE PEOPLE SPEAK — Medical system flawed, execs overpaid

— America’s medical system is flawed and was before we had PPACA “Obamacare.” Three years ago, my wife had knee surgery. Despite doing a wonderful job on the surgery, the surgeon was conspicuously absent during her hospital stay.

While recovering at a well-known orthopedic hospital, her blood pressure dropped drastically low, and the nurse would not call the doctor on duty. She could have died except our physicians daughter came to visit and insisted they call a doctor and do something immediately. Our family has more medical horror stories and others do, also.

Smith and Nephew and Styker are blaming the 2.3 percent excess tax on medical devices or equipment for large layoffs. Hospitals will survive, just consider all the charges including laboratory work and medications, for your stay in a hospital. One item cost especially irritating to us was an expensive brace ordered for her that we were told she would need, yet she didn’t even need nor did they put it on her after the fitting.

These medical service providers should not be giving their CEO’s and top people exorbitant salaries and extra benefits, and their employees should not take gifts offered to them by many suppliers to influence them to buy their products for patients. Many companies now get cuts in federal bailouts and freedom from paying taxes while their CEO’s and their spokespeople are constantly on the media pushing for cuts in programs for the middle class, poor and old. We did earn and do deserve the so-called “entitlements.”

EDWARD V. HARRIS

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