Much of the healthcare costs can be attributed to those who run out and get a lawyer the minute they are not restored to perfect health. I know doctors who have given up their practice because they REFUSED to pass along the outrageous costs incurred by them for malpractice insurance. They chose instead to stay with the career they loved by going into research. How do I know this? They were MY doctors, that's how. Our primary doctor had to drop several of his patients because he was making too many referrals to specialists when it was out of the range of his expertise. That is exactly WHY I will never again participate in an HMO system. When we retired, we had no choice in order to keep our company insurance there.

My husband suffered a stroke following surgery 15 years ago. One lady here in TV asked me why he cannot carry on a conversation. (It is called Expressive Aphasia.) When I told her the reason, her first words were "I bet you guys are fixed for life after that lawsuit!". My words to her were, "What lawsuit? He knew the risk going in and was willing to take it. It was not the doctor's fault! It happens and that is why the possibilities of what could happen were explained beforehand."

Medicine is not what it was in the horse and buggy days. Like any other business, yes it is a business, there are many other expenses besides just his/her fees and malpractice insurance. Doctors of old did not have to deal with that. They did not have office staff, cleaning services, nurses, supplies, equipment, outright office purchase or lease, expensive medical school, etc. The list goes on. Why should doctors and hospitals, etc. not bring in enough to meet those expenses? Think of all the ones that get the care and never pay a penny because they won't, not can't. Yet, the hospitals cannot turn them away because of it. Thank the deadbeats in your blame, too. Too many won't even pay their doctor bills because they don't want to give up their lifestyle. And I am not talking about food and medicine, but the latest electronic gadgets, nice car, etc.

Insurance, especially Medicare, will pay only so much. If they get billed for the exact cost, then they will still only approve a portion and then pay a portion of that approval. Unless the charges are well above, then doctors and hospitals cannot even recover the actual cost. I know of no business, public or private, that can sustain by operating at a loss year after year.

Many complain about the Morses. Why should they invest all the money, take all the risks, and then just say, "Come and get it....no charge because we have wealth."? There are plenty here that think that very thing. Would you do it if it was your business? Didn't think so.