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Individual vs. Society

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What works for you?

That question is at the center of every medical decision.
Or at least it SHOULD be!

Some say the health care system in the U.S. is in "critical condition."

People are losing the power to take control over their own health.
In the quest for higher profit, treatment options are limited
to the least expensive, rather than the most effective.

Social values & beliefs influence everybody involved in health care: the employers who purchase health plans, the doctors who deliver the care, and most of all, the individuals who use the health care services.

Think About It :

E Pluribus Unum...
How do the specific needs of the patient
conflict with the broader needs of society?

What values tend to be exaggerated in our society?

Which is more important: to "extend life"
or to "improve the quality of life"?

How should we view individuals so that
our own bias does not influence our decisions?

Should medical decisions be based on the individual at all?

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