Physician-Congressman Ron Paul’s Healthcare Stance

Congressman Ron Paul Speaks to voters in Rock Hill, SC (photo by Justin Ruckman, cc 2.0).

Have you heard of Presidential candidate Ron Paul?  I certainly hadn't, until I saw picketers marching down Market Street in San Francisco, encouraging voters in The City by the Bay to put their faith in this Republican who thinks like a Libertarian.  Who is this Dr. Ron Paul, former physician turned politician, and what does he think about health care and insurance in the United States? 

“Dr. No,” as he was later politically nicknamed, was in the process of earning his doctorate from the Duke University School of Medicine when he received a draft notice for the Vietnam War.  He tended the ears, nose and throats of many military pilots in South Korea, Iran, Ethiopia and Turkey, but was never actually sent to Vietnam.  He completed his residency at the University of Pittsburgh in 1968 after switching to ob/gyn from general medicine, and then proceeded to move to Surfside Beach, TX, delivering over 4,000 babies on his new path of medicine. 

Congressman Paul’s Life as a Doctor

Later in life, Congresssman Paul snatched up the practice of the only ob/gyn doctor in Brazoria County on the day the previous residing doctor was retiring, and reportedly delivered 40-50 babies a month.  His practice refused big carriers like Medicare and Medicaid payments, and Paul instead worked pro bono, arranged discounted or with custom payment plans for patients in need.

Physician, obstetrician, politician? Paul's path to politics may have been an untraditional one, but it has certainly influenced his views on health related policies and how he casts his vote. After learning that Paul didn't support the big guys like Medicare back when he was a practicing physician, it should come as no great surprise that he still feels this way today.

What would health care look like under President Ron Paul?  Well, it wouldn't be universal, that's for certain.  In fact, it wouldn't be government managed at all.  Paul believes that health care shouldn't be left up to the HMO's, big drug companies and government officials in suits, but rather giving the doctors the power to make the decisions. Coming from a former doctor, this show of brotherhood is hardly a revelation. 

Letting the doctors call the shots in Paul's eyes would mean giving them the freedom to collectively negotiate with insurance companies to supposedly lower the cost of medical care.  He also advocates for reforming licensing requirements to allow nurses and doctors to perform more basic functions, increasing access to care and again lowering costs.

Paul’s Stance on Managed Healthcare

Paul really seems to root for the little guy, but more precisely the little doctor guy, stating throughout his presidential campaign that insurance companies and the government are making healthcare un-affordable.  According to the good Dr. No (the nickname was given because Paul won't vote for any legislation that hasn't expressly been authorized by the Constitution), socialized and managed care hasn't and will not work.  He doesn't want mandated heath insurance. 

He wants more rights and freedom given to those who heal, and letting them make what they think are the right choices for their patients.  He is a staunch pro-lifer, telling his followers that his experience as an obstetrician led him to believe that a life begins at conception.  Whether you're a Democrat or Republican, man or woman, Ron Paul's unique, “for the people” healthcare stance is something to think about.  When you think, however, make sure it would benefit you the people and not just the people in the white coats.