Mark Gimein’s piece on MRIs, “The Machine That’s Bankrupting America” was not received well by TBM readers. “Wow. Thanks for misrepresenting the state of Americn healthcare,” milano87 writes before itemizing her clarifications on the piece and the healthcare system. Milano acknowledges that Gimein likes other countries’ health systems but that he doesn’t realize that “All those healthcare systems that you admire benefit from our innovations.” The MRI included.

A few commenters said sure, MRIs might be expensive, but that doesn’t make them any less effective. “The MRI is quite possibly the best diagnostic tool ever invented,” NickD writes. “As with any technology, MRI machines are expensive, however the costs associated with these machines should have gone down as more and more were built for demand. If these machines are still costing the same now as they were back when I needed one, then perhaps someone needs to look at why our medical system is overpaying for machines.”

Many took issue with Gimein’s lack of medical particulars, with roswellric123 dredging up his biography as proof that Gimein doesn’t know what he’s talking about. MITA was disappointed that the beneficial aspects of MRIs were left out. “In his accusation that MRI machines are the villain that is ‘ruining health care,’ Mr. Gimein fails to recognize that a non-invasive diagnostic scan is often less expensive than an invasive test and that by using diagnostic imaging to detect and treat diseases earlier, health care systems reduce costs by, for example, avoiding lengthy and repeated hospital stays.  

Fsilber thinks there’s a third way. Fsilber didn’t have to have an operation—as was expected—because an MRI revealed a certain type of meniscus tear that would heal on its own. “Maybe what we should do, to prevent abuse, is to forbid doctors from owning medical facilities as a possible conflict of interest.”

Make up your own mind; read the piece for yourself by clicking here.