Letter: Get government out of health care

While in Idaho visiting my mother for Mother's Day, I was reminded what it was like being on the "patient's and family/caregiver" side of the situation when my mom had to go to the emergency room and then be hospitalized for four days.

It also reiterated my disdain for having the government involved in health care. I have been an RN since 1971 and have seen and worked with the problems government involvement has caused. I have seen patient care decline and the potential for patients to suffer the results increase.

As a patient or caregiver, you are asked to give the same information over and over and over again, even in the same medical facility. This is stupid given our "computer age." But, the info is the focus and not the patient. The info is needed for reimbursement, from the government usually. But it becomes a game between the government and the facilities, and once again the focus is not the patient.

My advice is always have an advocate with you for any medical business. And let's get government out of the health care business. It could be life or death.

Marcia Bagley