Madam, – I would like to invite Graham Stull (September 15th) to buy my enchanted stone for a bargain price of €500. Although its force cannot be observed by scientific method, I assure him that it will improve his vigour, harmonise his energy, boost his immune system and he may even live longer. I can dispatch it immediately upon receipt of full payment.– Yours, etc,
Madam, – The real issue facing the health insurance market relates to the level of charges levied by the private hospitals and the refusal of the healthcare industry to adapt to the new economic order here in Ireland. The cost structure is simply way out of line. The €20 rebate of consultation fees for those who choose alternative medical practitioners would hardly pay the parking fee charges for a consultation in one of our private hospitals – never mind the rest!
Alternative medicine is clearly a major irritant for some orthodox practitioners but the patient has the right of choice. If orthodox medicine provided all the answers there would be no need to seek alternatives. Where does the idea that other people are paying for my choice come from anyway? I thought in this case I, as the insurer, “paid the piper”. For those objecting to the choices others might make regarding alternative therapies, it might be perhaps more useful to focus on the reduction of the costs associated with the healthcare choices that they have made. – Yours, etc,