Confession time: I have a guilty pleasure that I act on every single day. I gleefully consume (with unbridled relish) word after luscious word in the buffet-style-of-articles that the New York Times spreads before me…every single day. Ah, sweet life.
If it’s Tuesday’s in the NYTimes, it must be Science. And indeed this past week the science theme was completely devoted to the Health Care Bill and and all that it entails. So imagine my delightful routine interupted by an audible shriek, a shriek that  belched out of me! YIKES!
Right before my eyes, the Dr. that my parents have had for over a decade was being quoted…with picture and all!
When questioned about his patients demand for lot’s of  (“unnecessary”) tests, he said,  “I do the damn test. There is no incentive for me, Rob Colton, to reduce overutilization. If the person wants it, what are we going to do, say no?” He went on, “I really believe that in our heart of hearts most doctors want to curb this. We know what we are doing. And we are frustrated, too. But we can’t help ourselves. There is nothing to stop us and nothing to be gained by stopping.”
Well, that was a bit of a shocker! Not the fact that sooooo many tests are done to appease the patient (CYA) but rather that even the doctors know this, but are somehow stymied inspite of good intentions!!
 Estimates of 10 to 30 percent have been sited as to unnecessary medical care (it’s not CARE if it is unnnecessary!!) !! This most certainly is a huge chunk of our G.D.P. and will make the insurance premiums sky-rocket if not curbed, and just might bring this nation to it’s knees unnecessarily!
And, here is where we the patient must come in. We the patient must play as an equal partner in OUR own care. We must gain knowledge, educate ourselves so that the power lies equally between the patient and the doctor in the mission of treatment…for the best treatment possible…nothing more nothing less! 
The good news: The new law includes money for comparitive effectiveness studies. Then, using the results from these studies we can find the correct treatment for US…the individual…as with fibroids, each one is different and every woman’s needs are different.
My 7 different doctors ALL wanted THEIR treatment-style for me!! A hysterectomy was no-way-no-how my choice, so I kept looking for the doctor that would be…well…honest.
I quote Dr. Brody, “We doctors are extremely good at rationalizing. Somehow we manage to figure out how the very best care just happens to be the care that brings us the most money.” 
And some of the options for treating fibroids may NOT include your OB/GYN….so, according to Dr. Brody’s (honest) statement, the doctor may do what is best for him/her, not necessarily what is best for you!
Educate yourself…empower yourself…become your own patient advocate. This will benefit you, your doctor and our nation’s very very sick healthcare “system.” It is long over due, but each of us MUST have an educated hand in our own care…it will be worth it, in the short AND the long run!