The Criminalization of Medicine-America's War on Doctors (Part of the Praeger Series on Contemporary Health and Living, Julie Silver,Series Editor)

摘要

"Why would the government scapegoat the most humane and caring professional class in society? Perhaps this happened to marginalized groups in society but could it happen to an entire professional class-medical doctors? . .. If so, why would they do so?" (xi) Thus begins this provocative monograph by Ronald T. Libby (Professor of Political Science at University of North Florida and Senior Research Fellow at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Florida Center for Ethics, Public Policy and the Professions).Painstakingly researched and grippingly conveyed, Professor Libby quickly lays to rest any conception that this is one more conspiracy theory. He captures our curiosity and compels our belief that, while most doctors may not personally feel the pains of unjust persecution, there are many of us who have experienced these firsthand, or once removed. He contends that politicians, when unable to solve important problems, frequently seek to divert criticism of their own ineptitude to whomever they can successfully blame. (1) In particular, he highlights scapegoating in the war on medical fraud (2), kickback conspiracies (5), and the war on drugs (6).