When Socialized Health Care Could Mean the Difference Between Life and Death

In late July, Charlie Gard, the baby stricken with the rare and typically fatal genetic disorder known as Mitochondrial DNA Depletion Syndrome, died. Charlie was at the center of a legal battle between his parents and the British health care system over who ultimately had the authority to decide if and when to remove the infant’s life support.

The story garnered international attention because of the ramifications stemming from the court’s decision to remove Charlie’s life support; not the least of which was the alarming degree of authority wielded by Britain’s government-run health care system in overriding the wishes of Charlie’s parents.

Tragically, Charlie is now gone. In the meantime, a remarkably similar story is now beginning to unfold in the United States.

Russell Cruzan III is a four-month-old baby from Michigan who suffers from a variation of the same rare condition as Charlie Gard. The similarities, however, don’t end there. Russell’s parents, like Charlie’s parents, have vowed to do everything in their power to treat their baby. They are pursuing an experimental treatment with leading specialists in the United States just as Charlie’s parents did. Russell’s parents are also in the process of raising the funds necessary to cover their fight to prolong their son’s life, as did Charlie’s parents.

Given all these similarities, what’s the significant difference between these two cases? Russell’s care will be administered under the auspices of a free-market health care system in the United States, while Charlie’s care and medical outcome were subject to the bureaucratic nature of Britain’s socialized health care system.

The Gard and Cruzan cases demonstrate the stark difference in the overall philosophy and approach underpinning the two health care systems. In the U.S. system, Russell’s parents are pursuing a path they think is in the best interests of their child but doing so without any interference from administrators, lawyers, judges or health care bureaucrats. The decisions on Russell’s treatment, quality of life and very likely end of life will ultimately rest in his parents’ hands. In the U.K. system, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, Charlie’s parents, were afforded none of the same opportunities.

This profound difference between the two nearly identical situations lies at the heart of why socialized health care falls short of its claim to put patients first.

Health care in the United States, despite its flaws, still represents the world’s best example of a patient-centered medical system. While pundits, politicians and policy-makers debate what the health care system should ultimately look like and how to enable greater patient access, these two cases have clearly shown that a move toward a more socialized health care system is not the answer.

Russell Cruzan III has a long and difficult road ahead: a life-threatening condition, an experimental treatment and costly care. It’s a long shot for the Cruzan baby on all counts; nonetheless, every step of the way decisions on what is best for Russell are right where they belong—in the hands of his parents. {eoa}

Richard D. Kocur is an assistant professor of business at Grove City College. He specializes in marketing and business strategy and has over 25 years of experience in the health care industry. For the original article, visit visionandvalues.org.