And Stewart and Colbert to be in them...

But then would probably be extradited to Guantanamo regardless.

Yah, you seem to mean well. It’s an odd situation Dr. Lee is creating, but it is hard for me to call it unethical as long as everyone is better off than they would be in an “ethical” situation. Can acting ethically with perfect information really make everyone worse off? Maybe...

Ah, thanks. I thought both people could profit from a barter if it is a good deal, but I am not sure now. They can definitely be better off but I guess the Irs uses fair market value so they can’t both be positive. Hmm, something to think about.

They aren’t getting cash but they are getting cash equivalent services that benefit them, so I think could be said to be profiting. It is possible to profit from barter, but it is for sure a bit weird to view someone cutting out a cyst for you as a profit. You certainly can’t take it to the bank.

Doh, accidently hit publish. I was going to say that the AMA has been blocking reforms for decades, it isn’t like this system just happened, though administration and pharmaceutical companies do seem to have taken the helm lately.

True, there are people who aren’t doctors who seem to be bailing money as well, and to be sure it isn’t like one doctor can singlehandedly fix the system, but I guess I want to hold doctors to a higher standard of professionalism than guys like Martin Shkreli, who are transparently evil. And

But financial concerns are already a factor in the negative sense, that people aren’t getting care because they can’t afford it. And doctors have a conflict of interest whenever they bill someone for care,the person would always be better off paying less, and the doctor better off charging more(until they have no…

I wouldn’t feel terrible for that, it doesn’t seem like you are hurting anyone. Helping them get free health-care, if anything. You freak. ;-)

If you need a procedure, and your choice is between Dumpster Joe and nothing, isn’t it rational to look at both options?

I’m unclear why there is an ethical need for patients not to profit from the care they receive. It clearly complicates things, but US health-care is painfully complicated and obviously lots of people are profiting from it in ethically questionable ways. I would rather err on the side of freedom and transparency than…