An extraordinary thoughtful and well-reasoned article that actually informs the issue rather than dogging it for sensationalism. The national debate on healthcare reform is so fraught with special interest lobbying and ill-considered ideology , that a piece like this blows through the rabble like a cool ocean breeze on a stifling summer afternoon. Absolutely first-rate opinion with well-argued suggestions for cutting through the Gordian knot that is healthcare in America.

What possible business does the insurance industry have meddling in the practice of medicine? (Hint: KA-CHING!) And why does the media so studiously avoid asking this question? Until the insurance industry is summarily removed from the equation, there can be no substantive change to the disconnected system of health care options which currently confound Americans. The huge disparity in fees, premiums, reimbursements, allowed services, and 'reasonable and customary" treatments ... More »

Lane DeGregory manages to tell this story without resorting to the usual "victimization" of her subject. Ms. Perez comes across as both sympathetic and resourceful...she could be any of us. In the near future many more Americans will likely find themselves in similar situations --and articles such as this can inform us about what we may have to confront in our own lives. To that end, however, I would like to have seen a more specific accounting of Ms. Perez's monthly expenses. ... More »

If all journalistic endeavor adhered to this standard, the public would be: 1. Extremely well-informed. 2. Excruciatingly bored. As close to a fair expression of a partisan issue as I've read. Moreover, it lead to an informative half-hour diversion researching the author's contextual use of "a priori." Excellent piece.

A fascinating yet disturbing study, this article delved too superficially into the medical ethics of spending vast amounts of money on what would appear to be a lost cause. The article avoided cliche, however, and concentrated instead upon unsentimental reportage of this man's desperate situation and the research subject he is providing neuroscientists in exchange for his treatment. This must have been a grueling a story to write. Good background information on new modalities and ... More »

Although this article presents the basic elements of the controversy, it does not deal sufficiently with the fact the The College of William and Mary is a public school supported by the State of Virginia and federal grants. Nicol appears to have been put into an untenable situation which damned him no matter what his decision. That private money eventually trumped constitutionality is the crux of the story, and was not sufficiently addressed. I would have liked to see more ... More »

A very good point made by Thomas Sowell, and one that defines the American class system. Wealth here (at least historically,) has by and large been fluid. One can come to this country wealthy and lose it all, or come here impoverished and become wealthy. Few manage to hold onto their wealth dynastically without help from a complicit government. The middle class has a way of moderating the economic dynamic in spite of the best efforts of any nascent aristocracy...all the more reason ... More »

Hospice care is by definition not long-term care. It is for the dying. Not the pill-taking; not the assisted-living; not the indigent with no place to go. The dying. Perhaps this inconvenient fact eluded the writer? If you're gaming the system, you don't have much moral authority complaining when you get caught and are forced to pay back the money you stole. Perhaps the journalist might have addressed this issue instead of playing pity party at the expense of those footing the bills.

"Frail holiday trees" with only "modest" gifts for their greedy little brats? Boo Hoo Hoo. Maybe if they hadn't HELOC'ed their "equity" to buy that Hummer, they wouldn't be awaiting a court order removing them from "their" house. As for giving the baby the only loaf of bread for Christmas? Overwrought in the extreme. This isn't even good parody.