The Moral Crisis of Healthcare in America

So happy, happy MLK Day. Um, it is hard to believe that today Dr. King would have been 97 years old. Um, he was assassinated by people who were afraid of his power and his message on hope and equality. He uh talked about a lot of the contemporary challenges that were going on during the day and that are still going on now through the lens of justice, equality, and peace. Now a lot of people actually know what Martin Luther King said about racial discrimination and Jim Crow laws uh and the Vietnam War and housing and poverty, but many people do not know what Martin Luther King said about health care. So I'm gonna talk today about what Martin Luther King said about health care. Um in 1966, uh Martin Luther King was invited to speak at the American Medical Association meeting. Now, the American Association meeting, which is the AMA, it represents all of the physicians, residents, retired physicians in the entire country of all colors and denominations. The American Medical Association at the time was over about 200,000 members. Right now it's closer to about 270,000 members. In this actual conference, Martin Luther King said of all the forms of inequality and injustice, the injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane. So today we're gonna examine the moral crisis of health care in America and we're gonna explore inequality, uh, access problems, affordability, systematic bias that continue to shape how we receive care and who does not receive care. I want to reflect today on Martin Luther King's unfinished work specifically connected to health care. So today we're gonna look beyond policies and profits, and we're gonna ask sort of some deeper questions about dignity, compassion, and the true meaning of health equity. Um we'll discuss the human cost of health care disparities, the role of advocacy, and the meaning, uh the meaningful change that it could the meaningful change that it actually could actually look like Martin Luther King's actual dream. So let's talk about on health care the the the principles that Martin Luther King did espouse around health care. So, first of all, he advocated for universal health care systems that would produce equal access to all individuals regardless of socioeconomic status. He believed that health care should not be a privilege, but that health care should be a right. Now this is kind of interesting because most people say, well, health care is a right, but no, it's not really a right in the United States. So what happens when something is a right or a fundamental privilege? Um I mean, I'm sorry, when when something is actually a right and a fundamental freedom, um it is a it is it is a it is a right that the government is required to respect. It usually comes in the form of uh a constitution or a bill of rights, and it cannot be taken care of taken away arbitrarily because of budget cuts or changes in policy. So let me give you an example of a couple of rights. Um everyone has the has the right to freedom of speech and freedom of religion in the United States. Okay. That is in our constitution. Um everyone has the right uh to due process and equal protection. Now these rights um are sometimes attacked, but they are usually illitigated in the in the court of law. Um and so health care being a right, it would look like everyone actually has a right to health care. Now, Dr. King also talked about the connection between health and poverty. Um he spoke about the link between poverty and health care and emphasized that economic conditions directly impact health outcomes. He argued that addressing poverty was essential to improving health care disparities. We know right now today that your zip code is more likely to predict your life expectancy than anything else. Dr. King also critiqued um the inequality in health care. He talked about disparities related to health care access, particularly in African American communities and under and and marginalized communities. And again, he thought that these disparities were shocking and inhumane. Um lastly, in his speech to the American Medical Association, he viewed health care as a moral issue and urged society to collectively be responsible for the health of all its rem all of its members. Um he believed that a just society must ensure that every person can receive adequate medical care. Um and that is not where we are right now. Um Martin Luther King's advocacy for health care was a crucial aspect of his broader vision for social justice and equality and human rights. His legacy continues to inspire discussions about health care and equity today. So I asked you, what would Martin Luther King think about where we are as a country today as it relates to health care? Specifically, would he what would he be challenging us to do as a country or as a people? What the health is happening, that is a real question. And it's also the name of my new podcast where you can literally get life-changing advice. What the health is happening is where I give you the inside scoop on everything that matters around health care. And it empowers you with information on everything from breaking news to health and medical updates. What the health is happening is your dose of medical reality with me and my friends from the front lines of healthcare, and it can be heard on all streaming platforms. So it does not matter where you get your podcast, you can find what the health is happening. All right, we've got a caller, Derek, on line one. So so how would you like what is your question or comment today on Martin Luther King Day?

Oh, I think I was speaking to somebody, and I just got my health care, and I said, I know some people uh were saying we don't need to have health care, but I think this based on my experience, everybody needs to have health care.

Right.

You have to have health care because uh there's so many things that can happen, uh like uh if you need a transplant, if you get to the hospital, and I know this from my own experience when I got uh when I got sick about about 20, yeah, 90 years ago. And I know the one thing they asked me is they said, Where does it hurt? And then the next question they asked me is uh uh do you have health care?

Right.

And then they looked me up and they said he has health care, given the best treatment ever. And I was I was embarrassed. And I'm and my thinking is that uh I I was saying if I had found out if I had anti, they might I might have been there just for one day and then they sent me home. Yes, and so I was there for about five days, but I was given the best treatment ever.

Yeah. So so so what's required by law is that we provide everyone with emergency stabilization. But emergency stabilization is not actual health care, right? So I could have breast cancer and I'm not gonna die tomorrow, but that doesn't really get me um can't you know cancer treatment or chemo or surgery. You know what I mean? So I think that when people think that, you know, everyone's allowed to go to the emergency department and get emergency stabilization care. Um but the real health care is all the care that occurs after that.

Yeah, that's what I found out. But uh this is what I want to I want to ask you another question too. Yes. Can I ask you two more questions? The other question is uh uh I had one. I'm thinking about getting a uh what's it called, a an induction stove. And I've been told that by some people to uh those induction stoves are bad for people who have pacemakers. That's my one question. I don't have that issue, but I'm just saying if my brother has a pacemaker, and I was I was I was concerned about if he's gonna use it or anything else like induction stove. Okay, second one was the um the uh we were talking about milk and we were talking about uh yesterday Sunday and I'm explaining where he's uh vegan, and he was talking about the best kind of milk. He's talking about oat milk. I said, I'm not sure. But I've been told goat milk is uh uh good. Does does goat milk have and then uh flex milk? Then I told somebody about plax milk, and they said that can affect your uh that can affect your body in other ways. Uh the what's the plax milk? But they recommended goat milk if I'm going to drink any kind of milk.

Right.

Even if it's not organic.

So let me actually so let me start with your first question. So when you talk about an induction stove, an induction stove actually generates like uh uh electromagnetic fields. And basically most people actually, you know, the safety guidelines is to stay 12 inches away from it. So the closer you are, the stronger the electromagnetic field. So I wouldn't necessarily be concerned about family members coming over unless you felt like they were gonna actually be close to the stove and cooking, right? Um if you're talking about pacemakers, right? Um now some people just in general don't want to be near electromagnetic fields, which is very hard for us to do in our environment with all of our electronics, right? So as far as as far as that's concerned, you've kind of got to look at what is your own tolerance around that and what do you feel about that.

I don't ha I don't have any issues. I don't have any issues, but it would be safe for me to be cooking on uh electromagn uh magnetic field, even if I'm two inches close or because I hate to cook because I I can't cook uh two uh twelve inches away and uh and mean no cooking food, you know.

Right. But modern pacemakers are really resilient to electromagnetic fields. So I wouldn't have I wouldn't have um any sort of issue or concern about that, you know, assuming that, you know, assuming that your family member has a pacemaker that was installed in the last 10 years or so. Okay. Um now your question about milk is a little bit a little bit uh uh a little bit different. When you say what is the best milk, I think it's kind of like it really depends upon what are you actually trying to do, right? So some people um really like soy milk because they they like, you know, they like the flavor of it, right? And it can be all come in all different flavors. Other people are interested in having like a creamier milk, like a coconut milk. Um and then some folks want to have milk that is very, very high in protein, and they want to have uh, you know, something that has like hemp milk is very rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which is very good for your heart. So I think when you talk about milk, it really kind of depends upon what are you actually really trying to do or trying to actually, you know, it's good for different people.

I want something that's gonna give me uh calcium, I want something that's gonna be good because I would have this milk, whatever milk I'm drinking, I would have as my my cereal, like my oatmeal. And I get the the kind of oatmeal I get is I get the one that's uh um doesn't have any of those uh uh as glass uh it's been certified glassified uh free or something like that and organic.

Right. So usually oat milk is for fortified with calcium and vitamin D, right? And so, you know, a lot of the different milks are are fortified with calcium and vitamin D. Oat milk is almost always calcified with with that. I tell people a lot of times, you know, are you lactose intolerant or no?

No. No, I don't have that issue.

Yeah. So so if you're not like you know, when you're lactose intolerant is really, really important, like which which of these milks you're gonna actually use. But but if you actually want something that is fortified with calcium and vitamin D, they'll tell you that on the label. But but oat milk does is is almost always fortified with that. I've got a second caller here. Um so I want to thank you for call I want to thank you for calling in. Um we've got the caller online too there. You want to uh you have a question? Oh, okay. All righty. So um one of the other things that I wanted to talk about here is kind of go over what countries is healthcare a right, and what countries is health care not a right. So when you actually look at this, um health care is a right in the UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, Belgium, Austria, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Rwanda, Bahrain, and Qatar. So where is health care a privilege like it is with us, where you have to have insurance, and if you don't have insurance, you won't necessarily get good health care in addition to the United States, is India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines. Alrighty, we've got Miss Richardson online too. Go ahead. You have a question or comment for us today?

Yes, dear. Can you hear me?

Yes, I can hear you.

Yes, Dr. V. We love you dearly, dear. Oh, thank you. Listen to you on a daily you are one of the most knowledgeable uh adopters. And um my question is about the milk. Um, okay, my children were brought up on milk. Whole milk. Uh I got it in the schools, and um you remember a milk years ago um called field test?

No, I do not.

Field test is one of the best because the schools uh had uh field test milk in it in the public school uh in Washington DC. And uh the milk was delicious, really, because it had flavor, it had, you know, the milk today. I don't know whether you drink milk, but it's very bland in my opinion. If you go to the store, you can get whole milk. All you're tasting is like white water. Right. Well, I mean, do you know, Doctor, what has happened to milk? Do you know what happened to the cows? Or have they uh erased the cow milk to put you know, they're putting in a lot of sugar and a lot of filthy in everything now. This thing called flu uh, what is it, high flutose corn? Corn syrup or something. Yes, yes. Yeah, they're putting all that in everything. And uh there's a doctor that comes on uh you know, another show and uh talks about uh that high flutose syrup being everything. And what is that doing to the body? Because I see children out here with very negative minds, they're they're not talking to each other in a positive way, it's a bunch of negative talk, and I don't know, they're acting rowdy. What has happened to our children in many instances? Because I believe it has to do with what they're eating, what they're drinking. Uh they're drinking a lot of soda pop. And you know, they never talk about soda pop being bad, but that's a lot of sugar in that stuff. And on this uh this radio station years ago, they would talk about milk being bad for you. It's not bad for my children because my children are grown and they all are successful, they have their own businesses, except for one of my sons that still is with me. But um, you know, it's sad because milk really is supposed to nurture the body, and but what you hear from black folks is that it's not good for you.

Uh sounds good. Let me let me uh I'll share with you a couple of a couple of things. So, first of all, I am not someone who particularly uh likes milk. I don't drink a lot of milk, but I've had a lot of experiences with milk in my life. So my my my family um owns farms in Mississippi. Um and so I have drink I have I have had milk straight from the cow. Um and um that milk is uh in addition to being exceedingly warm because it's coming out of the cow, um, it's also exceedingly sweet. Um and so um and it is kind of watery like. Um now growing up I was not really that much of a milk drinker, but my brother was, and my brother would drink milk and my father would get really upset about it, and my father would buy the powdered milk that you mix with water to try to save to try to save money, right?

I remember that.

Yes, exactly. So, you know, I I that that's been sort of my uh in general, um, I sort of lean towards if you want to know what I do, I kind of lean towards um oat milk and um and also uh almond milk. Um but a couple of a couple of things about the kids and your comment about the kids, because I think this is really important. So some of it may be related to diet, but a lot of it, a lot of this disruptive behavior that you're seeing is actually related to the amount of time that they're spending on their screens and the amount of time that they're spending on social media. So social media and these screens make a a drastic difference in how kids interact with each other. And like growing up, we would have a lot of experience playing with each other, dealing with, you know, having a little schoolyard dispute and resolving it. They don't necessarily have that same experience. A lot of them are actually very isolated, um, and they're a lot of what they're doing um in school and a lot of their interactions with their friends is occurring over the um over over screens and over the internet. And I want to actually really talk talk briefly though about the high fructose corn syrup, because high fructose corn syrup is very, very dangerous, and it is it is why we are seeing a lot of the weight gain and obesity in in our community and particularly amongst um younger people. We are seeing early onset of diabetes type two. We are also seeing um a lot of young people with fatty livers as a result of high fructose corn syrup. So I just wanted to just touch on all three things that you asked me about. All right?

Because it's dangerous, it's so dangerous, and I'm glad that you're bringing it up too, because um oh, and happy uh Martin King. Thank you. You know, I love that man so much, and I have pictures of him here. I have him in my bedroom on the wall. You know, he's what he's the one of the greatest civil rights leaders, I think, you know.

Absolutely ever, ever. So I want to get to one more question, and I want to thank you for calling in. Um I got a question from um Michelle Brown, and she said, Dr. V, there's a deep trust in the black community towards the medical system, and for good reason, from the Tuskegee Institute, uh Tuskegee experiment to the Henry Henrietta Lack situation. If we are moving forward with health care as a right, how do we also address this historical trauma and rebuild trust? So, as a lot of you know, the Tuskegee experiment was from 1939, I'm sorry, 1932 to 1942. It involved 600 black men in Alabama, 399 of them had syphilis. They were told that they were going to be treated for syphilis and they were not. Um it led to many of them dying, and some of them their wives unnecessarily getting syphilis. The Henrietta Lack situation involved cancer cells that were taken from her without her approval in Baltimore at uh, I believe at Johns Hopkins. Um they were later used for cancer research to do polio vaccines, IVF, COVID, HIV, and generated billions and billions of dollars in commercial and scientific uh value. Um she was not compensated. Uh she did not even know that this had actually been done to her. Um so I want to actually really talk about one way we real we rebuild trust is we understand what has happened as a result and what still needs to happen. So, one, there's several changes that have happened. One is that there has there's now informed consent for any and all experimental treatments, and that informed consent form you actually have to sign. There's also a IRB, which is a review board that reviews experimental protocols and makes sure that no harm is done to the patients before that uh experiment can either can even begin. The other thing that I think is really important in rebuilding uh trust is naming the harm, acknowledging the impact, and apologizing. A lot of people don't realize that in 2008 the AMA issued a formal apology. And the apology was for excluding black physicians for decades, supporting and tolerating systems of segregations, and recognizing that there are policies that actually harm black. Black doctors and black patients. In 2022, the American Nursing Association also issued uh a a public apology and they actually uh acknowledged that they had participated in racism and discrimination in nursing uh that had was systematic, had denied uh black women and men the r the uh right to go into the nursing field and had actually impacted the ability of our community to have nurses in our community. So I want to actually just make sure that um you guys or everybody out there is aware of this and you actually um know know what the Tuskegee uh experiment was, know what the Henrietta Lacks uh situation was. Uh the family in the Henrietta Lacks situation did sue and they um did get an undisclosed amount of money. So I want to thank you guys for the mission of Channel of Health is to inform and educate and empower communities about pressing health and health care issues. Channel of Health also provides scholarships for MCAT Prep and school scholars. You can support uh Channel of Health by going to channelofhealth.org. That's a wrap today. I've had so much fun talking to you. Make sure to email me. You can send me an email. I do respond if there is a topic that you actually want to talk about or a question that you want to have asked. If you can send me an email at info at askdrv.us. That's info at ask drv.us.

The preceding program was paid for by Channel of Health. The NS Doctor V Show is for educational purposes only. Please consult your doctor before starting any new treatment.