Comments on: “Attorneys Gear Up for Suits Over ‘Virtual Medicine'”

By: Supremacy Claus

Supremacy Claus — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 12:44:26 +0000

The lawyer has granted himself immunity from accountability to adverse third parties. Look how his profession is growing and thriving. The same took place with the rails in the 19th Century. Government has immunity. It is exploding in size relative to the population and economy.

If virtual medicine is to grow for the sake of efficiency and greater access, it must be granted immunity. All patients with any common sense know that any condition difficult to diagnose and treat cannot be managed by email.

By: Greedy Trial Lawyer

Greedy Trial Lawyer — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 05:58:26 +0000

Prediction: Virtual housecalls and virtual rounding will lead to virtual medical malpractice lawsuits. Now,that would be a service to humanity.

By: nevins

nevins — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 17:43:21 +0000

Of course insurers are willing to pay for this form of patient-physician care. It is efficient for the doc so they are willing to accept a lower payment, it is efficient for the patient, who can accomplish in minutes what it would otherwise take at least half a day to do.

But beware of what comes next. Docs are blindly rushing into this area but once they establish the patient demand for this service then watch out. Insurers will find docs in India to work for less, and to cover the odd hours that patients might wish. Once patients are hooked on anonymous medicine the switch to offshore providers will be swift and sure. The only safe areas of medicine now are those that require the hands on provision of care, like surgery, anesthesia, and interventional radiology. The so called ‘cerebral’ areas are on a ship called the Titanic, only none have read the writing on the hull yet.