Question

Should the government be involved in doctor-patient decisions?

Answer 1

Government should not involve in doctor- patient decisions. Dr. Douglas Mark, President of the Coalition of Family Physicians and Specialists of Ontario said that micromanagement of healthcare will be started in Ontario. Micromanagement in healthcare is controlling every part of healthcare decisions. For instance if a physician orders for X ray or MRI for a patient and if the government using micromanaging later comes to an conclusion that those diagnostic tests are not necessary then the physician will be the one to pay for those tests. If this occurs regularly then physician fearing to lose money may not order tests which may most of the times very crucial for providing quality care.

For reducing costs, analysing the necessity and access for healthcare to low socioeconomic groups can be achieved by government .But government cannot interfere in patient doctor dcisions.If government starts regulating the decisions between physicians and patients it may end up harsh.

The patient, as a consumer of health care, should determine the value and quality of services received and how much doctors should be paid to provide them. Free market forces, not the government, should define the relationships between patients and providers.(Stark,2015)