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A comment on U.S. Hospitals Are Asking Their Own Patients to Donate Money.

Re:U.S. Hospitals Are Asking Their Own Patients to Donate Money by tannranger on Friday January 25, 2019 @05:47PM (#19003359)
Doesn't seem so radical compared to other systems. I have heard in China doctors will give preferential treatment to patients who give sufficient 'hongbao' (red envelope = money). I imagine (with no evidence) this might be common in many developing world/traditional societies.

So we are just evolving toward that kind of system.

If anything this provides another lever for free market principles to decide who survives based on willingness to pay (WTP - likely familiar to those who went to business school).

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Re:U.S. Hospitals Are Asking Their Own Patients to Donate Money by eatbitseveryday on Friday January 25, 2019 @07:03PM (#19003783)
> I have heard in China doctors will give preferential treatment to patients who give sufficient 'hongbao' (red envelope = money).

Yes, this is true. Hospital admissions requires approval of a doctor, and you essentially have to out-bribe other patients to get a bed, or even convince doctors to pay attention to you. [Personal experience.]

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