THIS TIME ON CODE WACK!
Patients aren’t the only people who are frustrated with our current healthcare system. So are doctors! Why? And why doesn’t free market capitalism work with health care?
To find out, we spoke to award-winning filmmaker Maddy Purves, who is editor of the documentary Healing US narrated by Susan Sarandon, and Laura Fielding, founder of Red Berets for Medicare for All and associate producer of Healing US. This is the second episode in a two-part series.
SHOW NOTES
WE DISCUSS
Let’s talk about the impact of corporate health care, which puts profits over patients every day, on doctors and other providers.
“I … think it’s important that we really begin to look at … the emotional burden that we, as a society, and that our for-profit predatory system, places on the shoulders and the hearts … of our caregivers, our doctors and our nurses.
“That’s the thing that strikes me every time is most of them … got into the profession to provide care, to heal and to care for their patients and meanwhile they go in, and … just sort of armor up and do what they can.
“Because if they were emotionally facing the injustice of our systems – as they’re forced to try to function – and provide the best care that they can in this heinous cruel system, I just think that that in itself is abhorrent. An atrocious reality to face is the emotional burden that we place on our healers, people that we’re relying on to heal us. That breaks my heart.” – Laura Fielding
Wendell Potter and Dr. Joseph Jarvis, two experts featured in the documentary, argue that free market capitalism doesn’t work with health care. Do you agree with them?
“I love this point because I have some personal context to it. My dad is an insurance agent and is transitioning in his career to mostly personal lines, which is home and auto…. It makes sense why we have car insurance. It’s one of those things we gamble with, with capitalism. We live in a capitalist world and I was able to convert my father because of this point…
“…sometimes we talk about audiences … that what they say is their “favorite part” quote-unquote depends on who they are. And with a lot of bleeding hearts, it’s the stories and that’s what gets me to is, is, you know, I’m a storyteller. That’s what I thrive off of.
“For a lot of the other spectrum of political people, for a lot of the other half of America, the point that sells them is explaining a free market and explaining how healthcare does not qualify.
“We are conditioned, as Americans, to fear the phrase socialized medicine. We don’t want to be like Canada <laugh>, heaven forbid we’re like Britain. We are so different. So we had to very clearly outline capitalism and a free market and why health care doesn’t work there. …” – Maddy Purves
So what policy solutions does the film advocate for and why?
“The only way forward, I think, is a single-payer future wherein the government is the sole payer of health care. See, you can hear my lack of vocabulary. I’m a filmmaker and this is where we need the policy makers to come in and say, ‘this is how we can make this happen’ but essentially the policy is there, there are bills in circulation, not only in California, but in other states. Washington has held the torch for a long time, so has Colorado.
“And what I think and what I’m passionate about – now that the film is done – is using our film and what we’ve created called the Healing Us Network, which is an interstate connective network literally, of people who are all working in their own counties, cities, and states to get a state-based policy movement going to get them all working together..” – Maddy Purves
“…thank you Code WACK! because you were one of the first … to sign aboard and say, absolutely, we’d love to be in partnership… If you visit Healing US Network.com and you don’t see yourself or an organization that you volunteer or strongly advocate with … if you don’t see yourselves up on Healing US Network, that’s not because you’re not invited.
“Please reach out. Please be a part of the network. Because again, the idea is that when people see the film, wherever you are, you should be able to go to HealingUSnetwork.com and be like, somebody maybe was in Washington State and even though we’ve done a lot of advocacy, they may not yet know about Whole Washington.” – Laura Fielding
Helpful Links
Failures of a Market Approach to Healthcare, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara University
Why the next stage of capitalism is coming, BBC
Corporate healthcare ownership reduces care quality, physician survey finds, Healthcare Dive
Once just a burden, prior authorization has become a nightmare, American Medical Association
Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations: 4 Key Economic Theories, History Hit
Episode Transcript
Read the full episode transcript.
Biography: Maddy Purves
Maddy Purves is a dynamic filmmaker with a passion for crafting stories into captivating and impactful experiences. Equipped with a B.A. in Media Studies from Brigham Young University, Maddy’s filmmaking journey began with her directorial debut, “Same-Sex Attracted” (2020), earning her accolades from festivals around the country by the age of 25.
Maddy’s next feature ANCHOR POINT (2021) secured awards like the Pitch Fund at AmDocs 2021, the Fort Myers Beach International Film Festival’s People’s Choice Award, and Best Feature Documentary at both Cinequest and Paris International film festivals.
Maddy’s recent work continues with local creative partner Kenny Ballentine on Healing US (2023), the most expansive project to date. Narrated by Susan Sarandon, Healing US and its companion the Healing US Network are disrupting the entire political narrative in America. Maddy, Kenny, and the rest of the Healing US team are committed to breaking down barriers and building bridges across America by sharing stories of empathy, compassion, and hope.
Biography: Laura Fielding
Laura Fielding is a holistic healthcare practitioner, a veteran for peace, founder of the creative grassroots coalition of craftivists Red Berets for Medicare for All, and Associate Producer of Healing US.
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