The Kingdom of God & The Healthcare Debate (Intro)

Much ink, time, and press have been given lately to the current healthcare crisis - healthcare costs skyrocketing out of control, prickly questions about whether healthcare is a right and if it is then is healthcare equality also a right (i.e. Should the US Senators and the homeless man recieve the same level of care?). Words like "efficiency" & "limited resources" & "socialized medicine" & "market-driven" swirl around in a storm of power plays, barbed rhetoric, and ridiculous complexity. There is much confusion about what the new bills in the House & Senate do and don't do and there is no shortage of opinions at all places along the spectrum. If I were to be honest about where I am on the spectrum...I have no stinking idea!!

In the coming weeks I will try to honestly portray the tensions that reside within my mind and heart about what option (if such an option exists) that is consistent with the kingdom of God. I live in world - i.e. Medicine - as a physician that at least in my opinion is very opposed to any such reform bills being passed. Some objections are purely financial and greed-driven - the perceived ability to earn more money, etc - while others put forward concerns about the quality of care that will be given.

I also live in the world of theology and the kingdom of God and seek to be defined first and foremost as a disciple of Jesus Christ and no other. Justice for the poor and the least among us is an absolute non-negotiable in the eyes of God. He has proven repeatedly that he dislikes it when the rich oppress the poor and perpetuate injustice.

Christians are equally divided on this issue with perspectives from all corners claiming to be doing the will of God. What in the world is going on? I have no intention of trying to answer all these questions (or any of them for that matter) in this blog but I do hope to portray one man's honest perspective and questions about our current situation. I pray that whatever is done with these posts will be only helpful and conversation-provoking. One thing I am certain of is that wherever there is slander from any side, it does not reflect the image of Jesus.

Blessings...

Emergency Medicine

Well...I survived my first month of my internship. 35 days of Internal Medicine taking care of everything from electrolyte imbalances to heart attacks to ruptured intestines to anxiety attacks. I did six shifts of inhouse (we actually have to physically be in the hospital - yeah it stinks) call and the best part...all my patients survived! At least when I left them they were alive and that's kind of the point. Now I am doing Emergency Medicine. In the next 35 days I have 16 twelve hour shifts...(do the math and that'a alot of days off - yeah that rocks) and the best part...no deaths yet!! And I do stress the yet aspect! The goal is to make sure that at the end of your shift, your patient(s) are still breathing and if they are, it's been a good day...because now they are someone else's problem :) Just kidding but shift work is kinda nice!

Anyways, this post is part to let you know what's new in my world and part to justify why I haven't written in a while. Everything is going well. We are adjusting to life in Motown (burbs really) and settling into a routine. Look for more soon!