LETTER: American health care is like no other

Harvey S. Weingarten, Kendall Park
   As a practicing Family Physician for the past 27 years it is so disturbing to witness the potential dismantling of the profession I humbly and graciously enjoy practicing each and every day.
   I daily encounter many of my Medicare patients who are very fearful of the looming cuts made by President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid and Congressman Rush Holt of 500 Billion dollars over the next 10 years. They worry who will be their Family Doc? Where will they have to travel to get rationed medical care? As a participant in the numerous Tea Parties over the past 14 months, I truly believe we Americans will do what has to be done to keep our seniors safe and change whatever legislation necessary to achieve that goal. That is why we must all vote November 2nd and elect representatives who may represent us and not the lobbyists.
   I personally witnessed the arrogance of my Congressman’s office in March before the vote on Obamacare when I tried to get my 3 full-signed pages of patient’s petitions against Obamacare to Rush Holt. I faxed the petition to Rush Holt’s office on the Wednesday before the vote on the bill. I traveled to Washington on Saturday March 21 and eagerly hoped to discuss the pending legislation with my congressman with a copy of the petition in hand. Instead I found his staffers but not Mr. Holt who was in New Jersey staying as far away from the New Jersey Tea Partiers visiting DC that weekend. I asked if Mr. Holt saw my pages of petitions and was told, “we have no idea what you are talking about”. They said they would get back to me as soon as they found out any information. It is now 200+ days and no one has had the courtesy to call me back.
   I wonder if I would still have a medical practice if I treated my patients in the same manner. I hope we elect better people this November who will listen to us and not ignore us as Mr. Rush Holt does to his constituents.
   Yes our system is extravagant but if you need a MRI today to save your life, what government official should decide if the test is medically necessary. One of my patient’s children with newly diagnosed cancer, experienced the true reality of nationalized health care as a 20-year-old student in London last month.
   When she called the British Health Services in London when she found a breast mass, their response was “the next appointment will be in 6 weeks”. I routinely see women with breast lesions and have them totally evaluated within days.
   I know we, as Americans would never accept such a flawed health system. But if we don’t rid our Congress of the men and women who rammed this bill down our throats without taking time to listen to us, you will be that cancer patient who will just have to wait until the specialist can see you. I say No! Stop the insanity now! Please vote and remove each and every congressman who voted for a bill that no one read in entirety. When Nancy Pelosi said, “You will have to pass the bill to find out whats in it”. Now I understand why the Democrats refused to participate in Obamacare as the Republicans demanded and have totally separate health insurance.
   If a physician prescribed medications without learning its side effects and potential interactions it could be malpractice. I want congressman to live by the same standards we physicians must abide by each and every day. When we were told by Congress that our health care costs would come down, they should have to put their assets in escrow and if they were wrong in their promises, the first monies to pay the deficit costs should be their monies in escrow. I would bet they would read bills before signing them.
   I am truly humbled by my fellow Americans who over the past months have tuned in and stood up to protect what is so special to me, the best health care system the world has ever seen.
Harvey S. Weingarten
Kendall Park