"A person’s access to medical care should not turn on just how skilled he is as an economic creature. While some of us are smarter, taller, and quicker than others, as human beings we are equal."
"A few years ago I realized that my bonus, based on my "quality" management of diabetes, was compromised by the poor quality of my patients. I then dismissed many of the alcoholics and non-compliant (more correctly, I maneuvered them to dismiss me -- much less hassle); and my bonus scores have greatly improved. I thought I was clever, but I've come to believe that this is exactly what the the network, the insurance companies, and the gov't, wants me to do."
"One might as well claim that the tide which rubs pebbles smooth on a beach is doing the pebbles a service because being round is prettier than being jagged. It's of no concern to a pebble what shape it is. But it's very important to a person."
"Es darf auf gar keinen Fall sein, dass Behandlungen unterlassen werden aus nicht sachgerechten Gründen, also nicht aus medizinischen Gründen, sondern aus fiskalischen Gründen."