HEALTH-CARE ISSUES OF THE 1990S - WHAT ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS SURGEONS

When I chose the topic of health care months ago, it seemed to me, at that time, to be one that would be of considerable interest to this congress, but I didn't realize that in the ensuing 6 months it would be discussed in newspapers, magazines, talk shows, and newscasts on a daily basis. My problem has-not been one of finding pertinent material. On the contrary, my problem has been one of sorting through the tremendous volume of information that appears daily. Each morning I grab the newspaper to check what new proposals have been advocated, and, of course, I am holding my breath awaiting Hillary Clinton's proposal in May [Clinton Health Security Plan preliminary summary was released on September 22, 1993]. I will not even presume to be capable of solving such a complex issue, one that has kept so many experts engaged in thinking about and debating on the many proposals that have been advanced. Yet I am equally unwilling to allow the overwhelming nature of the situation to paralyze me. It is imperative that we all give serious consideration to this issue. I will discuss my personal thoughts about some of the major problems and what we as surgeons should be doing to influence the decisions being made in the health care arena.