Medical treatments - at what 'cost'?

“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. (Isaiah 40:6-7)

I read with keen interest on the recent court case involving a very prominent cancer specialist. The whole matter centres on what is considered the ‘fair’ fees to be charged by the doctor including arranging other doctors to see her patient. The case is still on- going but it does tarnish the image of the medical industry here when it was revealed that astronomical mark-ups were made for third party bills.

This issue will definitely not arise if the patient has gone to see a public doctor. The lure for the public sector’s doctors to enter the private sector is very great indeed as the disparity in earnings is just too wide. Every year the public sector loses a sizeable number of highly qualified doctors, so I am very grateful to my doctors who are still doing the ‘national service’ for the country whilst on the other hand, I am also worrying how long can they resist the temptations of material gains such as able to bring their whole family on board first-class seats, going for exotic holidays several times a year and having a spa-like clinics etc.

I am glad that the government-linked hospitals have improved a lot in recent years that even if one goes there as a private patient, one still gets value for money in term of medical expertise and facilities, albeit still longer waiting time compared to the private hospitals. During my treatments from late October 2008 to May 2009, this is the computation of my medical fees as a private patient (excludes the small items):

3 CT-scans $2342
2 surgeries & hospitalisations - $24682
Pre & post-hospital consultation fees - $2390
Chemo treatments - $19,900 (20 times,inclusive Avastin $9900)
Total: $49300

Given the complexities of the surgeries and long duration of my chemo treatments, I must say that the medical fees I paid are very reasonable. I am sure if I had gone to see a private specialist, the bills would have easily double, especially for cancer treatments, there is no such thing as ‘standard’ fee guidelines. I definitely cannot compete with other wealthy patients for the doctors’ attentions on ‘dollars’ term. To be frank, cancer patients, in order to get well and relieve pain, tend to follow the doctors’ recommendations, even if it means just to extend lifespan for only weeks at a high price.

It is very common for the private hospitals to hide details in their bills. You have to request for detailed print- out which will revealed how even ‘micro’ items are charged. The private doctors also tend to engage ’extra’ specialists for the patients and billed them accordingly (subject to mark-up?). This was what happened to my mother-in-law when she went for gallstone operation and had only a short stay few years back. My ex-client, who had pancreatic cancer, initially received his medical treatments in a private hospital, almost lost his landed house when he mortgaged it to pay for his medical expenses. Fortunately later on he decided to get treatments from a government hospital instead.

We know that we have to seek medical treatments at a cost that it is reasonable, sensible, and not to be a burden to our families. But again, on moral ground, our family members are many a time torn between what is the best and right way to do it. A close friend recently lamented that she is not sure whether she is doing the right thing to her ailing, bedridden mother by taking very good care of her after she had stroke 10 years ago. Her heart aches when she sees her occassionally has teary eyes but cannot utter a single word to express her sufferings. I truly understand the conflicts inside her.