Ethical issues in healthcare reform: the experts and the public compared

Those of us in the healthcare industry have done a good job in demonstrating the value of our services in relationship to other activities government might undertake. We have done less well in recognizing the demands of individuals to make decisions about their own lives and the healthcare benefits they want. We continue to believe we know best, even to the point that we distrust the public to make appropriate decisions on their own behalf. A major part of freedom is the opportunity to learn from mistakes. When professionals restrict our freedom to choose, we all lose important rights. As the various bills make their way through Congress, we should look beyond our healthcare blinders and see that the public will reject industry-driven plans with almost the same level of suspicion given to the government and business.