Greed is the cause of health care problem

I have some thoughts regarding the problems with our health care.

To me the basic cause of our problems is greed. First of all let's look at the hospitals. Most seem to be on a perpetual building binge. They have to be bigger and better than their competition. I think the word is vanity.

Hospitals today feature atriums with waterfalls, gymnasiums that compete with local public and private operations, and other amenities that are fit for a king. How do these expensive things help a dying person? Who pays for them?

We do, or rather our insurance providers, who in turn pass on the cost in ever increasing premiums. By the way, let us not forget the five dollar aspirin.

Then we have the doctors. Most are specialists these days, believe they have a divine right to live in mega mansions in affluent suburbs and drive top-of-the-line Mercedes.

Even the family doctor (pardon me, primary care provider) needs a second look. They have become nothing more than a referral service for the specialists.

The dentists have their own little niche in the ripoff scheme. You pay an exorbitant fee just to walk into a dental office. Simple fillings are not enough. I suggest that a motto for the dental profession should be, "I've never seen a tooth I won't root canal."

If doctors can be wealthy, why not dentists? Need I say more?

Think long and hard about it. Am I wrong?

Ken Kitzing

Mount Prospect