Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Profit Over People We all work for a salary or wages. We all wish we can make more. Sometimes it means working more hours and some other times, it is impossible. We also do various jobs. It is almost impossible to compare physical work replacing roofs in the summer with office work of entering data to the computer. Sometimes, the pay we receive does not seem to be adequate for the effort we put in. But, in all of these variances, there are some rules and regulations. Regulations are usually related to established laws and formal requirements. Rules can also be written but sometimes they are not, and they are just common sense and accepted customs. And we all make mistakes and sometimes our efforts and work are not perfect. We are all humans. And then finally, there are red lines that we cannot cross. These red lines are something that keeps coming back to my mind often. When I hear about insurance companies rejecting claims for necessary medical treatments, with full knowledge their decision may hurt patients. That is crossing the red line. If private equity companies fire medical staff to 'save' money in order to pay higher bonuses to management and they compromise medical care for patients, that is crossing the red line. When doctors see patients for aging skin and force patients to buy expensive cosmetics, that is crossing the red line. Recently, I watched some documentary about a medical doctor who delivered chemotherapy for cancer in his office and diagnosed patients with cancer in large numbers while they really did not have cancer, which is really crossing the red line. Red lines exist in all aspects of business, not just healthcare. In healthcare, they are more pronounced because they may physically harm patients, but if manufacturers deliberately cut quality corners and produce faulty products, they may harm people as well. When factories allow their toxic wastes being disposed into the local rivers and lakes, they harm people and the environment. That is a major red line. And what is very worrying is the fact Dema that we often do not know about some drastic facts for years, until it is often too late to prevent harm. All those red lines and there are thousands more are related to greed: putting profit over people. Unfortunately, those who do so do not want to take any responsibility for what they have done. They would rather hire lawyers and lobbies to defend their 'innocence' or lack of knowledge, while they clearly contributed to a lot of harm. It seems like we also do not teach our children that there are red lines and there is common good rather that individual rules and benefits only. I think that slowly we might be losing full understanding what common good even is. It is simple: when you get hurt or sick, you want dedicated medical attention regardless of who you are and which hospital you go to. And when you need a new roof, you want to make sure it will not go down and harm your family. And when you drink water, you want to be secure that it will not make you sick. Red lines are there for all of us and we never can put profit over people. This is not my own statement. I borrowed it from Mr. Chomsky and his discussions on social justice. Michael Bukhalo, MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows, IL 60008 Tel. 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net Business Insight presented by Arlington Dermatology Profit Over People We all work for a salary or wages . We all wish we can make more . Sometimes it means working more hours and some other times , it is impossible . We also do various jobs . It is almost impossible to compare physical work replacing roofs in the summer with office work of entering data to the computer . Sometimes , the pay we receive does not seem to be adequate for the effort we put in . But , in all of these variances , there are some rules and regulations . Regulations are usually related to established laws and formal requirements . Rules can also be written but sometimes they are not , and they are just common sense and accepted customs . And we all make mistakes and sometimes our efforts and work are not perfect . We are all humans . And then finally , there are red lines that we cannot cross . These red lines are something that keeps coming back to my mind often . When I hear about insurance companies rejecting claims for necessary medical treatments , with full knowledge their decision may hurt patients . That is crossing the red line . If private equity companies fire medical staff to ' save ' money in order to pay higher bonuses to management and they compromise medical care for patients , that is crossing the red line . When doctors see patients for aging skin and force patients to buy expensive cosmetics , that is crossing the red line . Recently , I watched some documentary about a medical doctor who delivered chemotherapy for cancer in his office and diagnosed patients with cancer in large numbers while they really did not have cancer , which is really crossing the red line . Red lines exist in all aspects of business , not just healthcare . In healthcare , they are more pronounced because they may physically harm patients , but if manufacturers deliberately cut quality corners and produce faulty products , they may harm people as well . When factories allow their toxic wastes being disposed into the local rivers and lakes , they harm people and the environment . That is a major red line . And what is very worrying is the fact Dema that we often do not know about some drastic facts for years , until it is often too late to prevent harm . All those red lines and there are thousands more are related to greed : putting profit over people . Unfortunately , those who do so do not want to take any responsibility for what they have done . They would rather hire lawyers and lobbies to defend their ' innocence ' or lack of knowledge , while they clearly contributed to a lot of harm . It seems like we also do not teach our children that there are red lines and there is common good rather that individual rules and benefits only . I think that slowly we might be losing full understanding what common good even is . It is simple : when you get hurt or sick , you want dedicated medical attention regardless of who you are and which hospital you go to . And when you need a new roof , you want to make sure it will not go down and harm your family . And when you drink water , you want to be secure that it will not make you sick . Red lines are there for all of us and we never can put profit over people . This is not my own statement . I borrowed it from Mr. Chomsky and his discussions on social justice . Michael Bukhalo , MD Arlington Dermatology 5301 Keystone Court Rolling Meadows , IL 60008 Tel . 847 392 5440 | www.arlingtondermatology.net