Would ObamaCare Kill Medical Innovation?
by Nick GillespieAs health care reform inches closer to reality, a massively important question becomes even more pressing: Will ObamaCare kill the sorts of medical innovation that makes the United States the leader in bringing new treatments, technology, and procedures to market?
“America is the only industrialized nation that doesn’t have a national health plan,” says Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.), former Gov. Howard Dean (D-Vt.), and countless others who want the United States government to guarantee health coverage to all.
Protesters at a recent rally in downtown Los Angeles demanded universal coverage. They told Reason.tv that America is a cruel land where profits come before people.
“It’s disgusting!” said one woman. “There should be no profits in health care!” What about those who argue that profits drive medical innovation? “I think that’s kind of sick,” declared another protester, who wants the U.S. to be more like Canada, where government policy keeps drug prices, and drug company profits, lower than in America.
Many regard the profit motive as cruel, but it actually produces compassionate results. After all, America has generated vastly more medical innovations than other nations. Included in the long list is the innovation that saved the life of Dave Christensen, construction supervisor, husband, and father. After being diagnosed with cancer, Christensen was lucky enough to be given a then-experimental drug that probably wouldn’t have been developed or brought to market in any other country in the world.
If America follows the lead of the rest of the world and clamps down on profits in health care, who will make tomorrow’s wonder drugs?
“Drug companies that take big risks may make big profits,” says Reason.tv’s Nick Gillespie, who hosts the video. “But I say, good for them. If they’re saving lives, I hope they make a killing.”
“Would ObamaCare Kill Medical Innovation?” runs about seven minutes. Producer-Writer: Ted Balaker; Producer: Hawk Jensen; Director of Photography: Alex Manning; Associate Producer: Paul Detrick.
For downloadable versions of this and other videos, go to http://reason.tv
Special thanks to the Independence Institute for arranging and underwriting travel to Canada. Visit them at http://www.i2i.org/
Email this to a friend | Print |
Share on Facebook
| Tweet this
| 
Follow Us on Twitter
Subscribe via RSS
Got a Tip?
56 Comments
One simple answer to this: Yes
"There should be no profits in healthcare?" What?
You expect doctors to treat you why?
There should be no profits in food production! There should be no profits in automobile manufacturing!
Maybe what they really want is no profits at all.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by DNC Fail!, Big Tweeting. Big Tweeting said: BigGovt: Would ObamaCare Kill Medical Innovation?: As health care reform inches closer to rea.. http://bit.ly/6PocBC #BigTweet [...]
There's no "maybe" about it.
"There should be no profits in government." How about that?
All the evils, abuses, and iniquities, popularly ascribed to businessmen and to capitalism, were not caused by an unregulated economy or by a free market, but by government intervention into the economy.
Ayn Rand
Where was this rally?? oh yeah, in that "no profit" state very near bankruptcy….Kalifornification??????
These marxists are idiots… if they had a decent job, then they would have company provided healthcare. But obviously, since they probably are either unemployed or part time students….they do not earn enough " personal profit" to pay for their own healthcare. It's a novel concept — earn it!!!!…..remember folks, healthcare is not a right!
They should read the US constitution….or just move to Canada and die.
even simpler: DUH
I loved the point of where it is okay for Lance Armstrong to make millions, but forget about the Big Pharma making Big Bucks to make your life better if you get cancer. If O'care is passed, we are screwed as far as innovation goes in this world. No other country is out there to step up to the plate. Another shining example of the ingenuity of America!
I am reminded of a statement that was popular in the sixties, "America Love it or Leave it!" Maybe now it should be "Capitalism in America Now! Or Leave It!
I am diggin that! How about Limited Government, like it was intended by our Forefathers!
Do people who believe that drug company profits are evil also believe that doctors are evil because they make a good living off of other peoples suffering? And if not, why not?
No system is perfect!! Not capitalism, not marxism, socialism or whatever. Yes we all dream of a compassionate world, free from suffering, pollution and strife. What the libs fail to understand is that NO amount of social engineering, re-distribution, social justice or plain old welfare can TRUMP HUMAN NATURE!!!!!
IF THERE IS NO REWARD, THERE IS NO RISK, NO EFFORT, NO ADVANCEMENTS OF ANY KIND and our population seeks the lowest common denominator. Excellence and inspiration need to be recognized and rewarded. Capitalism, with all its warts and injustices, is the ONLY system to foster innovation and ingenuity.
Their arrogance and hubris driven ideals are not simply stupid, they are insidiously idiotic. If 'grown ups' don't start asserting their authority, these woodstock hold-overs will destroy us all.
They want universal coverage then move.
http://cafepress.com/rightwingstuff
Another reason drug prices are higher here is because we are the only major industrialized nation to allow pharma to recoup all R&D costs. The rest of the world limits that recovery. Even Dean has recognized this. That's why drugs are developed here, because it's the only place that will pay for them.
With government involved now, soon there will be no profit in automobile manufacturing.
You got that right. Profit Death Panels.
To quote Charlie Brown.."AAAAGGGHHHHH…..I CAN'T STAND IT!" If there is no production, there are no profits. If there are no profits, there are no jobs. If there are no jobs, there are no taxes. If there are no taxes, there are no socialist programs….hey wait, I might be on to something here. These people have no concept of reality what so ever. That's why everyone you see in these videos are grownups living at home with their parents, or they are parents with grownup kids living at home. And they LIKE IT!
That's a pretty novel idea to the Alinsky-ites running this administration.
They want doctors to serve the government.
any socio-economic system that requires people be more perfect, altruistic, selfless, honest, etc., is doomed to fail.
Rasmussen today has ObummerKare at a 38% approval and falling.
WHY are the politician-whores still debating this CRAP!?
http://noliberalspin.blogtownhall.com/2009/11/23/...
The Anti Liberal Zone
A little off topic, but does anyone know the answer to this question?
With all the emphasis on preventive care, what happens if somone Doesn't get their preventive services? What if someone decides they don't want to have a mammogram, colonoscopy (sp?), even an annual exam – and then they develop a chronic illness that Could have been detected – do they still get coverage for the resulting illness, regardless of the fact that they made no effort to prevent (or halt the spread) of this illness?
so let me see if i have this straight: if you provide some more or less frivolous product or service, you can make as much as the market will pay, but if your business is absolutely essential to life itself you should do it pretty much for free? in other words, the MORE IMPORTANT, MORE VALUABLE, your work is to your customers, the LESS YOU SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO CHARGE FOR IT????
oh yeah, that'll work…
My state – which consistently rides in the 'over 8%' unemployment bracket – STILL bases school funding on income tax. You'd think they would have figured it out – I've been here 8 years, and Every Year they start in with the same old Surprise! We don't have enough for schools! Please have your child bring paper, pencils, kleenex (we haven't hit the toilet paper request yet
…
I keep hearing Daffy – "what a maroon"
Why shouldn't healthcare generate profit? This IS America still isn't it? What do people think happen with those profits? Better medicine, better care, more innovation, better technology. What is the last thing Canada came up with as far as bettering healthcare? Any great medical advances coming out of that country lately?
The sheer amount of ignorance that is in this video is disturbing.
Profits are wrong? Ok, keep that in mind when you make more money than what you require to live on. You don’t need that cell phone, car, haircut, big house/apartment, or trendy clothes. You know how you bought those things? With your personal profit.
They even have a doctor suggesting that there hasn’t been a medical innovation (in the way of meds) for 20-30 years? For that, let’s go to my daughter who is alive today due to several innovative drugs that were created inside of the past 10 years, one of which just cleared the FDA this year. I can cite a great many other parents whose children are alive today due to this drug. And my family is FAR from unique – there are countless other people out there who can cite their own examples of a life saving med that was developed very recently.
It’s “sick” that profit helps incent innovation? Really? Someone show him the graph of countries that have contributed new innovations and let’s do another graph showing where profits stand to be made.
I agree with one person in the video who suggested that those people who complain about the costs and profits are some people who are here today thanks to those companies who made a profit and produced something that kept them alive.
Yes, it’s a free country with free speech, but who do they think they are to suggest that there should be no profit? They’re free to move to a country that does just that. Yet, oddly, none of them ever seem to want to move away. I wonder why?…
Something is really wrong “upstairs” with some people, imho. Sure hope none of them run their own business and make a profit.
Take it away from one, and it's just around the corner until they take it away from all.
Really? Like child labor?
Are you trying to make some kind of point or just trying to be annoying?
That's a moot question, because once Obamacare passes, you'll be 79 years old before you're finally through the line to get your umbilical cord cut.
You're starting to get it mrm, but not quite there. If you are REALLY successful in making your non-essential product a hit, then they will declare it a necessity. Then you can expect anti-trust suits and mega-regulation. So, as you build out your internet infrastructure, you have to make sure you only do a good enough job that it is still considered a luxury.
Is it wrong to suggest that those who object to the manner in which pharmaceutical companies and medical device makers run their businesses are free to decline to do business with them?
[...] is the original post: Big Government » Blog Archive » Would ObamaCare Kill Medical … By admin | category: Medical….? | tags: even-more, kill-the-sorts, makes-the-united, [...]
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by BigTweeting: BigGovt: Would ObamaCare Kill Medical Innovation?: As health care reform inches closer to rea.. http://bit.ly/6PocBC #BigTweet…
There's no profit NOW.
THERE SHOULD BE NO PROFIT IN FARMING! It is disgusting that people make a profit off something that people need to stay alive! This was sarcasm.
"Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid got his 60 on Saturday, and when the Senate returns from Thanksgiving recess next week, they'll be debating and amending a major piece of health care legislation."
WHOOPS! The Conservatives lost! EAT IT, DOUCHEBAGS!!! HAHAHA!
When all the capitalists are gone where will the progressives steal their technology from?
When all the capitalists are gone where will the progressives steal their technology from?
that's no shit. and instead of a drivers license photo on your 16th birthday, they'll finally be giving your mother her first ultrasound. "b-but my son's already in high school!" "it says right here you're scheduled for the procedure. now lay down, lift your blouse and don't make me call the orderlies."
oh boy- nurses with the bed side manners of prison matrons…
but then after the govt f_cks it all up, i'll qualify for subsidies. ahhh, the circle of life…
It's like they're living in the age of Star Trek… where there is no salary… no selfish concern about compensation. No, instead, everyone just works for the good of the collective.
*sigh*
When will our "civilized" society learn THIS IS NOT THE WAY IT WORKS!!! Argh…
Take profit out of medicine and be prepared for the consequences. Not all doctors are out to get rich but stop paying them and see how long they stick around. Would you give up 8-12 years of your life to work for free?
I'm a doctor and the answer to your question is, "yes". I've run across many people who think doctors are pawns of the pharma industry and just want to make money off people being sick. I've even met people who think that doctors CHOOSE NOT TO CURE people so they can continue to make money. It's not as rare a notion as you might think.
Obamacare is nothing but another Lib plan for a tax increase. It is mandatory and enforced by the IRS, if its mandatory and the IRS enforces itS JUST A tax. tHATS ALL THE STIMULOUS WAS- A TAX. tHE ONLY THING LIBS KNOW IS tax, THATS IT, THEY USE ANY POSSIBLE PROBLEM IN SOCIETY AS A WAY TO TAKE REVENUE FROM THE FRUITS OF THE pEOPLES LABOR.
You won't be saying that in 2010 and 2012
In a capitalistic system profit flows to doctors who are successful, to medicines that are successful, with socialism czars and political favors decide which doctors are good and medicines work. I'll take profit over a political burreaucrat, but our idiot president thinks profit is evil, what a dunce he is
[...] States the cheater in transfer newborn treatments, … Read more from the example source: Big Government » Blog Archive » Would ObamaCare Kill Medical … Posted in Health, Uncategorized | Tags: a-massively-important, and-drug, bringing-new, [...]
I am a SURVIVOR! Rituxan was part of my treatment "cocktail"! I like this "evil" drug company a hell of a lot more than the bitch yelling at the camera!
Talk about dumb! just dumb are these protesters? they aren't smart enough to understand thatinovation takes big money and if you risk big money than you should get big money back. Part of the reason our costs are so high is because other countries like Canada regulate their costs forcing the drug companies to raise prices here!You are supporting the rest of the world whenit comes to drugs and inovations in the drug industry! If you force the drug companies to charge less where will the new drugs come from when you need them because the bugs have gotten iminue to the old ones? Wake Up Stupid! Read a bok on ecomonics and read about the world and how they are dong all they can to steal our wealth because they are too stupid to compete! Wake Up America and shout down the stupid people who are lucky they can even feed themselves they are so stupid!
Everybody is worried that inovation and new technologies will suffer and it will. As will, healthcare positions. Thousands of dollars incurred in EDUCATIONAL COSTS to even get a license to practice, does NOT BODE WELL for the WAGE CUTS or containment. People say there should be NO PROFIT in healthcare-but then want “healthcare 24/7.” Medical professionals DON’T OWE YOU 24/7 healthcare-including holidays&weekends which some people flat out refuse to do. If you take the “free market equation and the incentive” to work in this profession, you will have a shortage! Even if someone takes a position that they don’t care to do, out of desperation, YOU WILL END UP WITH SUBSTANDARD CARE! Seems to me, they tried “screwing mechanics” as well. It didn’t work very well-did it! THESE HUMANS/PEOPLE that work in these professions need money to live on and have families to support. FLORENCE NIGHTENGALE is dead! For those of you who don’t know who she was-she donated her time for free to work taking care of ill people. It would be nice to work for FREE-but that don’t PAY the rent/mortgage!
Great article and video. What kills me lately is that a 300 million bribe for a vote is ok, but let Pfizer make a buck the honest way and they are corrupt ones.
I take pride in who I am. Always have, always will. I've worked hard my whole life and have never taken anyone's charity, and I'm not about to start now, no matter what. I'm telling you, there's no way I'm going to sit back and let some president of the United States try to devise a structure to help me pay for the dialysis treatment I so desperately need to survive.
Not over my dead body.
Just who does this occupant of the highest office in the land think he is, anyway? Some of them act like the whole world owes them something. For example, important government subsidies on my dialysis.
You know, I don't recall asking for some commander in chief to embrace protections that would prohibit insurance companies from dropping my coverage on a whim and operating as if my continued existence on earth were nothing more than a strategic liability. Plus, if I go along with this progressive health-benefits scheme, he'll probably hold it over my head every time I receive vital care with the aid of the government to which I already pay taxes.
Sorry. I've got too much self-respect for that.
Obama needs to know that there's still one American willing to watch his body drown in its own deadly internal toxins rather than have long-overdue reform crammed down his throat.
Fact is, nobody wants some too-big-for-his-britches president butting in to suggest that everyone, including me, needs to be treated with dignity. Yet this Obama thinks he can just waltz in and and tinker with a health care system that destroys people like myself every single day.
Seriously, when Obama's done drumming up support for legislation that might allow me to see my daughter graduate from college and prevent me from dying before my 50th birthday, what's next on the agenda? Will he try to keep my life's savings from evaporating in a stock market that operates free of serious governmental oversight? Is there any aspect of capitalism run amok that this guy won't tamper with? Really, Obama, thanks but no thanks. The last person I need help from is some leader of the federal government in a position to perhaps improve my quality of life.
The worst part is that I'll have to put up with this guy being president for at least three more years. I guess all I can do is try to hold out for the 2012 election. Maybe then we'll get a Republican president back in office. Maybe he'll have the common decency to let me suffer in peace.
Last month I had a full yearly physical, 3 blood tests and an ultrasound to check out a potential problem that turned out (thankfully) to be a non-issue… guess what it cost out of my pocket? NOTHING!!! Yep. Us Canadians and our universal healthcare have nothing on you guys. I wonder how many hundreds it would have cost me down there…?
[...] [...]
Quite remarkable ideas. ive been cruising for days, and need to get prepared for my new employment at a medical silicone molding company, but it has been well worth my time, after stumbling across for sites of a medical nature that hits the nail on the head like this ” » Would ObamaCare Kill Medical Innovation? – Big Government” blog. Thanks, this it will make medical school & work zoom by!. Have a great weekend!… disposable silicone…