Randy Cohen gets in a lick against income disparities in the U.S.

[gristy]

Mr. Cohen writes the column "The Ethicist" in the NY Times Magazine. You can read today's entire column here:

http://www.sltrib.com/2003/Oct/10042003/saturday/98503.asp

And below is the interesting section. He is responding to a question from a woman who is complaining that a doctor had charged $500 for a 25 minute visit.

But while the doctor's doing so is not unethical,
the consequences can be undesirable, contributing to
a system that allocates medical resources on the basis
of a patient's income, not his need, and thus reinforc-
ing a societal drift toward great disparities of wealth
and poverty.

The solution lies less in individual rectitude than
in civic virtue. The medical community must devise ways
to deliver health care equitably. And the entire nation
must consider the consequences of income distribution
akin to that of a banana republic.

I like how he used this reply as an opportunity to comment on income disparity in general.

[Loyal]

1. Banana Republic

sad, but true.

[Darranar]

2. I noticed that!

:toast:, Randy Cohen!