Yuyutsu,

Having well balanced regulation in regards to health, is vital.

If we send a message that people feel they have a "right" (in all areas of health) in terms of limited or no government involvement re policy, what we, as a society are doing is literally "forcing" people into something they may not want, something not predicted, a corner they may have thought they would end up in - or something they did not expect.

This is why we have (health related regulations at present), which in general I support - because we have to think of the health of wider community, not just one person's own philosophy.

We need to consider the impacts that flow from a decision made by all individuals.

As soon as someone is badly hurt, left injured, is brain damaged, or left in a wheelchair or dies - the (real) impacts (based on law) - are serious. A coroners inquest will likely be undertaken, and as people are very emotional they WILL, very likely - take a doctor or specialist to court - including those involved with alternative therapies.

This then potentially denies other people in the community, (through government law put in place) access to all types of medical options, including alternative and herbal therapies - like I have said I use - plus the ones I also use, that are medicine based, re two serious health conditions I have.

Humans, simply can't be selfish, they should take medical advice seriously - and people need to realise that you don't need to poke yourself in the eye to know that it hurts - but too many do.

Treasurer Joe Hockey claims Medicare reforms are necessary so the system can provide for those children already born who have a life expectancy of 150 years.

Alaskan Sarah Palin reputedly could see Russia from her house but that's nothing to Joe Hockey's telescopic vision which allows him to see a staggering 150 years into the future.

Luckily for the government, he is no Sarah Palin. But cabinet leaks, and backflips on barnacles suggest 2015 is off to a shaky start.

I believe that Hockey and Abbott are extremely self centred and have little concern for the welfare of ordinary Australians.

Hence the attempts at dismantling media-care, deregulating uni fees.

Dear Nathan,

<<If we send a message that people feel they have a "right" (in all areas of health)>>

But who asked "we" to send any message at all?

Just let people live their life the way they want without interfering - especially those who do not want and never agreed to belong to that "we". The "we" do not need to grant anybody "rights" - just don't take people's freedom away - Otherwise, this is a selfish and violent action by "we" against "them".

<<As soon as someone is badly hurt, left injured, is brain damaged, or left in a wheelchair or dies - the (real) impacts (based on law) - are serious.>>

That's why people should be able to opt out of the system well before anything like that happens. They can put in writing and sign, in front of a JP if necessary, that they have no expectations whatsoever of the system and wish to be left alone by it.

<<Humans, simply can't be selfish, they should take medical advice seriously>>

It's OK to have your opinion, which what the above is, but it is not OK to force it on others.

All very well but when a govt; governs it is supposed to be in our best interest and for everyone. That is why collectively we all have the same rules to abide by.

Why does the coalition have so much dislike for medicare, if the system needs more money it must up the medicare levy.

An account has already been established in the futures fund for savings from medicare. By 2020 it is supposed to grow to 20 billion $, for scientific research. Why rob one system to pay for another. It needs new money.

That is the reason for Abbott's pig headed shoot from the hip politics.

He has made an idiot of himself setting up an account, then finding there is no money to go in, you could say the B/S about medicare needing more money which we don't have is incorrect. He wants the savings for his med science futures fund.

At present there is 104 billion in a general infrastructure futures fund.

If this man ever tells the public the truth he will not be believed.

Tony Abbott has responded to a talkback radio caller who said the Prime Minister was "on the nose with Liberal voters" and "world's worst salesman.

The Prime Minister holds the loudest hailer in the land. When he speaks, the media and public will always listen. As long as trust remains.

Yuyutsu,

Reality in terms of health policy is vital in 2015. This requires looking into the basic elements of health and its provision to the public. The assessment element is vital.

It is an element of two way respect and this goes back to and comes from the original elements of medicine and health.

Early Egyptians had developed an advanced system of medicine and this influenced medical traditions from that time which flow on to today. The Egyptians and Babylonians introduced the concepts of diagnosis, prognosis, and medical examination - and Greece went even further, developing the principle of medical ethics.

This was a huge advancement in terms of health policy.

So on that basis, that is why when a person today sees a doctor, nurse or specialist, they are doing so in that format - and health in principle, is not simply a "product" that one should simply accept or reject. A two way relationship based on the principle of health and ethics is important - where people can choose or refuse certain elements of health, but with quality information provided to the patient.

Many specialists however are now having to reconsider how they operate, (based on law) and potentially face being taken to court. If say someone was to refuse advice - and that person is left in a poor state, legal action is possible. After all we are not living in ancient Egypt or Greece. The elements of law (in 2015) are putting excessive pressure on the ability to keep high standards in regards to health and there are numerous reports (based on quality research) to support this.

As a person who has two medical conditions, in principle appreciation of early health elements and principles that were developed are vital if we are to advance in health policy - not go backwards and simply put money into the bank accounts of lawyers.