Friends, is there an end to greed?
Greed is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “a selfish and excessive desire for more of something (such as money) than is needed motivated by naked ambition and greed.”
I believe, greed is a dark and evil force that will stop at nothing to get by any means necessary more power, more control, more position, status, pleasure, possessions, or money.
Is this force controlling my life or yours?
Well, help us Lord lest we choose to let this evil force dwell in our souls transforming our lives and those closest to us into misery and spiritual poverty.
I ‘ve seen through my many years of practicing medicine the transformation of medicine from predominantly a compassionate ministry of healing ran by dedicated physicians and their like-minded staff into a business ran by for-profit entities and health systems with the primary objective of making a lot of money.
Knowing how to operate a medical institution or practice in a healthy business fashion in order to have reasonable profits to keep its doors open is about knowing the Business of Medicine. This is reasonable, wise and appropriate. But conducting Medicine (medical institutions and practices) primarily and aggressively as a business that is structured to maximize profits stinks like a dead fish, and is not good for physicians, medical staff, or patients. That’s the definition of greed that we find in Merriam-Webster Dictionary.
I once talked to a nurse practitioner who shared with me that she has decided to quit her Nursing Home job after the administrators began to discourage, taunt, and admonish her for ordering urine tests for Alzheimer’s patients to evaluate mental status changes, to maintain a patient on long term antibiotic treatment when clearly needed (because of the additional cost to the nursing home), and sending patients to a hospital for hospitalization as that will decrease reimbursement to the facility. To her credit this caring nurse practitioner decided to quit rather than compromise her ethical standards for more profits to shareholders.
“It’s all about the money. How much more money do you need to live? You can’t take it to the grave, you know. People don’t care what you have or what you drive….at least I don’t care,” she said reflecting on that disturbing chapter of her medical career.
“Well, I guess some care just enough to take away your car, money, and then leave you, “I answered. “For me, I find contentment in my Christian faith”
She nodded in agreement smiling as she reflected on how some of her nurse practitioners’ friends are already suffering burnout from the increasing number of patients to be seen daily, and the constant pressure of being forced to choose between ethical medical practice and more profits.
What about us friends? Whatever profession or career choices each one of us chooses, the trap and dark pitfall of greed without limits will snare us if we don’t learn the wisdom found in a life of contentment.
Views expressed here are only of the author, and do not represent the views of any other organization or entity. Information in this blog are not meant to be medical advice. Please see your medical provider or psychologist for any of your medical or psychological concerns.