Not long ago, my partner cared for a patient who was experiencing chest pain. The patient had already undergone a cardiac bypass surgery. He told my partner that he was currently using crack and methamphetamine.
Now, let me ask, whether he has no insurance, private insurance, Medicaid or Medicare, is this fair to the system? If he gets disability, is it fair to the system? If an insurer couldn’t deny him coverage, would that be fair to those who are paying into the system, but trying to stay healthy? Those who will probably contribute far more than they cost the insurance pool? (And who would certainly cost less than this ‘member of the pool.’)
Would you be willing to hand him your money to cover his expenses, knowing what he habitually does? I’m not talking about the money laundering scheme that taxation is. I’m talking about walking up to him, crack pipe in his hand, sitting in his living room with a beer and big screen television, and handing him $1000 to cover his medications for heart disease and hypertension? Would you feel good about it?
That’s what we’re all being asked to do, over and over again. Think about it!
For those who tell us that providing care to all is the ‘moral thing to do,’ tell me about the implicit morality of taking from the productivity of others without any consequence or gratitude among the recipients?
This, dear readers, is one of the many places where our current trend towards the tyranny of the masses falls flat.
It’s true, giving money to drug addicts seems unfair. Is there a constructive way to engage these people, and their awful addictions? Maybe we can tie the money for their heart therapy to a rehabilitation program, so they’re compelled to clean up their act. Or is that too much like social engineering — using the power of government to affect behavioral change? It’d be great if, by ignoring their problems or only directing our money towards people we deem worthy, drug addicts were forced to wrestle with their demons and peacefully work things out. What if a fair number of… Read more »
Nick, I’m not saying people should be allowed to die. All I’m saying is that it’s unfair for people to continue to abuse drugs, use resources and expect others to pay for it. Is it OK if they die? No, I try as hard as you do to keep these folks healthy and alive. But if they die, would it be the fault of the health-care system that cut them off? Or would it be a function of consequences? We cannot continue to shelter people from the consequences of their lifestyles, and pay for it like we actually have the… Read more »
Savage Henry
13 years ago
Make the currently illegal drugs legal. Tax them at 300%. Spend half of that to fund “free” rehabs. Use the other half to pay down the deficit. In one fell swoop, we will have: -dealt a devastating blow to organized crime -hamstrung the funding garnered from this country by organizations like FARC and the Taliban. -reduced the burden on the prison system. -reduced the burden on law enforcement. -shifted much of the financial carnage drug abuse wreaks onto the shoulders of the drug abusers (they’re paying for their own rehab, etc.) -help save the future economy of the US. I… Read more »
I have been thinking about this post for a while because it makes a very strong point by making a very personal plea. If you pay taxes and our taxes support those who can’t pay in some instances people who hurt themselves are getting our hard earned money. I would like people to also look at it another way. Let us say that instead you went to 100 homes and gave each family or individual 10 dollars which is equivalent in monetary terms. Each of these 100 homes would be people who are benefiting from care they couldn’t afford. I… Read more »
Actually, if you’ll check my recent post on taxation, I make a similar point. We would see the need, if it were personal. We would understand more clearly why we give; but we would also see that in some unfortunate cases, the gift is abused. And I’m not suggesting we punish people who use crack. I’m just saying, we shouldn’t be expected to support and enable their lifestyles. Not every drug user is doing it because they were abused, neglected or trampled upon by western civilization. Or do you believe that we have no ability to control our own behaviors,… Read more »
Do you believe that kicked out onto the street with no medical care that a crack addict will realize that they need get their life together, get clean, and a find a job. Or is it our job as a society (because in most cases there no longer exists community) to set up some sort of system that gives OPPORTUNITIES to people in difficult situations. I am saying there are NOT opportunities for those people who were unfortunate enough to have been born into a lower socioeconomic bracket. I hear very often this “American Dream” about everyone having the opportunity… Read more »
I see your point. But your father was clearly more than lucky. And unrewarded, unsuccessful brilliance is well known. Your father was motivated. He came from poverty and succeeded; he was part of the 1% you’re asserting. Was it because the state guaranteed his mobility? Was he a drug addict who was rehabilitated by others? Or did he desire and strive? Certainly, lots of people never have good behavior modeled for them and they need help. All I was asking is how much do you continue to give to someone who knows what they do is wrong, but continues to… Read more »
Daily Clinician
13 years ago
I had a male mid 20 something, crack, meth addict with a decent upper middle class background become furious with me because I wouldn’t write a work note for the time he was recovering from his high in the ER again. His boss left a message on his phone worried about him and had to call in a coworker again to cover his shift. I wonder how many times you would get up in the night student doc unexpectedly to go in to work for the recreational addict getting his jollies before the novelty of being an involuntary enabler wore… Read more »
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It’s true, giving money to drug addicts seems unfair. Is there a constructive way to engage these people, and their awful addictions? Maybe we can tie the money for their heart therapy to a rehabilitation program, so they’re compelled to clean up their act. Or is that too much like social engineering — using the power of government to affect behavioral change? It’d be great if, by ignoring their problems or only directing our money towards people we deem worthy, drug addicts were forced to wrestle with their demons and peacefully work things out. What if a fair number of… Read more »
Nick, I’m not saying people should be allowed to die. All I’m saying is that it’s unfair for people to continue to abuse drugs, use resources and expect others to pay for it. Is it OK if they die? No, I try as hard as you do to keep these folks healthy and alive. But if they die, would it be the fault of the health-care system that cut them off? Or would it be a function of consequences? We cannot continue to shelter people from the consequences of their lifestyles, and pay for it like we actually have the… Read more »
Make the currently illegal drugs legal. Tax them at 300%. Spend half of that to fund “free” rehabs. Use the other half to pay down the deficit. In one fell swoop, we will have: -dealt a devastating blow to organized crime -hamstrung the funding garnered from this country by organizations like FARC and the Taliban. -reduced the burden on the prison system. -reduced the burden on law enforcement. -shifted much of the financial carnage drug abuse wreaks onto the shoulders of the drug abusers (they’re paying for their own rehab, etc.) -help save the future economy of the US. I… Read more »
I have been thinking about this post for a while because it makes a very strong point by making a very personal plea. If you pay taxes and our taxes support those who can’t pay in some instances people who hurt themselves are getting our hard earned money. I would like people to also look at it another way. Let us say that instead you went to 100 homes and gave each family or individual 10 dollars which is equivalent in monetary terms. Each of these 100 homes would be people who are benefiting from care they couldn’t afford. I… Read more »
Actually, if you’ll check my recent post on taxation, I make a similar point. We would see the need, if it were personal. We would understand more clearly why we give; but we would also see that in some unfortunate cases, the gift is abused. And I’m not suggesting we punish people who use crack. I’m just saying, we shouldn’t be expected to support and enable their lifestyles. Not every drug user is doing it because they were abused, neglected or trampled upon by western civilization. Or do you believe that we have no ability to control our own behaviors,… Read more »
Do you believe that kicked out onto the street with no medical care that a crack addict will realize that they need get their life together, get clean, and a find a job. Or is it our job as a society (because in most cases there no longer exists community) to set up some sort of system that gives OPPORTUNITIES to people in difficult situations. I am saying there are NOT opportunities for those people who were unfortunate enough to have been born into a lower socioeconomic bracket. I hear very often this “American Dream” about everyone having the opportunity… Read more »
I see your point. But your father was clearly more than lucky. And unrewarded, unsuccessful brilliance is well known. Your father was motivated. He came from poverty and succeeded; he was part of the 1% you’re asserting. Was it because the state guaranteed his mobility? Was he a drug addict who was rehabilitated by others? Or did he desire and strive? Certainly, lots of people never have good behavior modeled for them and they need help. All I was asking is how much do you continue to give to someone who knows what they do is wrong, but continues to… Read more »
I had a male mid 20 something, crack, meth addict with a decent upper middle class background become furious with me because I wouldn’t write a work note for the time he was recovering from his high in the ER again. His boss left a message on his phone worried about him and had to call in a coworker again to cover his shift. I wonder how many times you would get up in the night student doc unexpectedly to go in to work for the recreational addict getting his jollies before the novelty of being an involuntary enabler wore… Read more »