[Rick TYler]

Also, if the description of Chinese medicine was accurate, there is an easy way for doctors to "win" the game. Whenever someone is too sick, just abandon the patient and focus on those who are fundamentally well. You would make more money by dealing with patients who get sniffles and sprained fingers than by dealing with chronic problems such as diabetes, hypertension, Parkinson's, etc.

If you think this through, it would the dream of managed health care -- provide services for trivial health problems and cut off those with expensive conditions. Why provide a $50,000 (and I'm making up that number) pacemaker for a retired 68-year-old school teacher when the person receiving it is unlikely to generate enough revenue to ever pay for it? This calculation is carried out no matter who is doing the paying -- a Chinese doctor, an insurance company, or public health care. Unless they are forced to provide service by a contract (insurance company) or the law, why would a health care provider continue to work at a loss?

I prefer Western medicine. If I'm really sick, I would prefer a doctor who thinks that if they could just make me well they could then take that ski trip their family wants.