Medical Students Weigh In On Health Care Reform

By Dan Bewley, The News On 6

TULSA, OK – Oklahoma's future doctors are paying close attention to the health care debate. Just like everywhere else, medical students are on both sides of the fence. 

With talk on Capitol Hill reaching fever pitch, medical students like Lauren Draper are tuning in. She's throwing her support behind government sponsored health care reform.

"I think at the heart of the matter, it's that we don't always pay attention to that these are people, these are our neighbors here," said Lauren Draper, medical student.

Not everyone agrees. Garry Bull is in medical school as well. He says there's one main issue for him -- it comes down to the $848 billion price tag.

"I mean, put all the issues aside, we can't afford it. My kids are going to be strapped with the debt," said Garry Bull, medical student.

Draper admits the cost is high, but says her studies have introduced her to a different world, such as at the Bedlam Free Clinic, where she has helped treat patients who don't have health insurance. 

"We are constantly making health care decisions for these people based on ‘what can they afford?' or ‘what drug is on a $4 plan?' not necessarily what's the best for them. And we're seeing them late in the course of diseases when they are a lot more expensive and a lot harder to control," said Lauren Draper.

Bull says there is definitely room for change in the country's health care system. But, he says it shouldn't come at the expense of taxpayers, adding the public may have unrealistic expectations.

"But you see people every day in health care who really believe that they should have health care. It should be free, it should be now, and it should be perfect and that's just not possible, it's impossible," said Garry Bull.

…Two future doctors with two vastly different opinions.

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