Year in review, continued... “By the early 1900s, every state had agreed to the aggression of physician licensing . . . . One half of the existing medical schools were approved, so most of the others had to close their doors by 1920. By 1932, almost half the medical school applicants had to be turned away . . . Licensing of physicians was largely a result of lobbying by the AMA . . . . Not surprisingly, the established practitioners suggest giving licenses to those already in practice, setting high standards for new entrants, and denying approval to practitioners who use different techniques from theirs . . . . In 1910, there were seven medical schools specializing in training black physicians. By 1944, only two had survived. Women were excluded from the medical profession in the same manner. In 1938, students of homeopathic, osteopathic, and chiropractic medical schools could no longer qualify for licensing as medical doctors. Hospitals or medical schools that dared to employ them risked losing their approved status . . . . Alternative practitioners were frequently denied other privileges as well. So blatant were these discriminatory practices that in 1987 the American Medical Association was found guilty under the antitrust laws of having “conspired to destroy the profession of chiropractic in the United States” by using the political power afforded them by licensing laws”. – from “Healing Our World”, by Mary Ruwart If you don’t have the time to read the entire book, I hope can at least read Chapter 5 – the one that deals with licensing of health care professionals. It makes a compelling case against licensing and regulations in health care. “What?!! No licensing for doctors?!!!” – yes, that’s what Dr. Mary Ruwart advocates, and I agree with her 100%. No licensing for any profession. Doctors included. “You cannot do this! Completely unregulated healthcare is dangerous!” – you do not need to worry about this. There is no such thing as “unregulated” market. Market is like an ecosystem that regulates itself, thanks to the choices millions of individuals make daily – choices whom to hire, and whom not to.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Dec 2014 15:16:00 +0000
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