[Excaliber]

I don't usually cite ONE "study" and that is the case here. I DO my research on a topic, form an opinion, popular or not, and state what I believe. Often others cite a different study or call my conclusions a "sham". OK, make your case, either way. There is FAR more data available than I have even touched on to make a case for WHY the American health care system is in deep trouble. Why it desperately needs reform. Obviously SOMETHING is wrong, or we wouldn't even be having discussions about health care reform!

It is widely acknowledged by BOTH parties that something has to be done to get a handle on ever increasing health care costs. Various solutions have been offered, one key component that has been not been widely discussed is WHY are the health care costs so high and climbing?

A couple of thoughts on that: One aspect has to do with tort reform. But when you consider the horror's of a real case of malpractice, it's going to be very hard to make the argument we should limit it. It's a very tough issue with good arguments on both sides.

Another reason I think costs are spiraling out of control is because we equate more money spent per patient in terms of better overall health care. I don't believe that is an accurate way to judge it and may be the FUNDAMENTAL reason that costs are ever increasing! In a nutshell, we rely to much on drugs and tests, fancy equipment and life prolonging extraordinary measures to preserve life another "two weeks". Why can't we simply let people die peacefully? We really really need to talk about this whole "death squad" issue in reasonable terms. But we can't, because as soon as it's mentioned it BECOMES "death squads".