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Comment by trust_bt_verify | Hacker News Reader

What are they demanding that you are not? Everyone wants to be healthy and they want a medical system which helps them get there. If partying is a problem, they should be able to talk to a doctor about it, and it should be paid for as a part of the services provided by society.

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Your expectations are unreasonable. The medical system is extremely expensive to operate. Highly paid physicians should be reserved for delivering the most complex care.

If consumers need guidance on making healthier lifestyle choices then doctors aren't even the best source. Utilize cheaper professionals for that stuff: therapists, counselors, social workers, dieticians, personal trainers, etc.

You are really extrapolating on what you think my expectations are. I never said everyone is entitled to a 3 hour conversation with a surgeon about the benefits of organic foods on their diets. Do you not discuss your lifestyle choices with your doctor at your yearly physical? That is as far as my expectations went for my previous comment and I believe that should be provided to every citizen of a modern society.

I don't get a yearly physical. While I do get a few periodic screenings there is no proven benefit to a yearly physical for asymptomatic adults.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK82767/

When I do see a doctor I don't waste time discussing lifestyle choices with them. Doctors have minimal training in that area and it's largely a waste of time. I rely on physicians for medical issues only. There are far better sources for other topics. Instead of telling us what you believe, stick to evidence-based medicine.

Well that is quite the charmed perspective on life you have, a specialist for every question available when needed. Many don't have the access you do and a yearly chat with their primary care doctor goes a long way for their health.

You're really missing the point or being intentionally obtuse. The people who are better qualified to provide guidance on lifestyle issues are actually less expensive and more accessible than doctors.

A "yearly chat" with a primary care doctor does little or nothing for the health of asymptomatic adults. Did you even read the article I linked above?

And you are trying to make this thread into some win for yourself that it is not. My original point was that life is a common goal of all humans on this planet, for life to continue, you need health. The services to keep people healthy should be provided to all citizens of modern societies at a cost that is spread out across all citizens equitably. That is a point you have yet to address.

Please take the win you did achieve, you identified a dietitian is the right person to talk to about your diet, bravo.

> If partying is a problem, they should be able to talk to a doctor about it, and it should be paid for as a part of the services provided by society.

I feel like I'm on an alien planet here. We should pay for people to get lifestyle advice?

This is malinvestment. Put that money into research instead.

Paying for people to get lifestyle advice is a great investment as it reduces both the cost of their healthcare and various externalities associated with living in a society where lots of people are unhealthy.

How much does that cost?

Edit: Why should we pay for this instead of food insecurity, education, research, etc.? Will measured outcomes give us bang for the buck?

Prevention generally costs less than treatment. It’s a great way to save money overall - unless you want to be the person at the restaurant who won’t split the bill because one of your party ordered extra fries.

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