Fear of Sickness

In lieu of defending medical care, I offer a commentary on health and sickness, health care and medical care, and a health system. These views and comments come from seventy-two years of life experience and fifty years of life actively involved in medicine and health. I have learned that a health system is a basic aspect of community life. The goal of a health system is the best health status possible for each person and the community. Medical care is a component of a health system and not the first or necessarily the most important component. When a health system is usurped by medical care or medical care is in the primary position, it reflects a mind-set that fears sickness more than it trusts the pursuit of good health. That mind-set relies upon medical care to cure sickness but it is not a mind-set to prevent sickness.