THE HEALTHCARE QUESTION NO ONE ASKS

Today's outlandish fears and fantasies over health care reform raise a peripheral question. Since everyone seems to bestow live-forever talents upon our medical professionals, how exactly should we look upon these talented people in our midst? Are their talents largely a gift (as in "he has this gift for healing"). Or largely a matter of genes (as in "she was always destined to be a doctor")? Or maybe largely where they got their degree?

Well, the most likely answer is a combination of gift, genetics, and good training. And yet. that conveniently sidesteps the full implication of "gift." Is there such a thing among people? In other words, are some of us more than simply our genetic makeup and training?

To answer Yes is to open the doors to a larger question: Is there some ultimate gift-giver? To put that in a way that may annoy critics and defenders alike: Are we evolved planetary life each reaching our own best biological heights or are we created beings each endowed with certain gifts?

This isn't to suggest these questions belong in the current medical debates. (Did I say debates? I meant to say reign of terrors). But it is to say that talented people themselves are sometimes inclined to ask the question: "Now, where did that come from....?" A question a surgeon may ask himself when he surprises his OR team -- and himself -- by suddenly cutting and clamping in such a unique way the patient survives against all odds. Or when an artist suddenly envisions or a composer suddenly hears a first-of-its-kind experience they capture in sight and sound. Or when a writer or a salesman suddenly experiences a symphony of words not found in any thesaurus or marketing report.

Granted, such questions don't belong in today's rational debates. Two reasons are usually given. First, human reason is neither equipped nor comfortable with such non-rational matters. (Note they are non-rational not ir-rational). Second, human reason cannot comprehend the non-rational which usually refers to the supernatural.

However, these reasons don't hold up well under reasonable cross-examination. First, rational experts like health care givers surely use their talents in ways that often exceed the rational. For instance their instincts, intuitions and yes inspirations! Second, although human reason alone cannot carry us to the peak of the supernatural, it certainly can bring us to the foot of the mountain!

True, there's no mention in the legislation of "gifts," "genes," or even "training." But here's the thing, my fellow patients. All legislative reform can propose is Where and How we can be treated. Not Who. Those extraordinary Who's out their with the best combination of gifts, genes and good training are always a matter of splendid serendipity. Degrees and titles and rates and facilities are never the whole story.

The whole story to whatever health care we end up with, will almost always depend upon who we end up with in the office, ER, OR, or hospital night shift. With all due respect to the President and the AMA, praying to your God may be more important than yelling at your Legislator.....