In a move that’s been greeted with a combination of reactions ranging from enthusiasm to excitement to trepiditation, New York City became the first American city to adopt a health code regulation to keep track of of residents who have diabetes in much the same way it does with patients infected with HIV or tuberculosis.
The drastic move is intended to save lives, news reports announced. In fact, diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in the city, with 1,891 New Yorkers killed by the disease in 2003 (the most recent figures available.).
In fact, the Big Apple — which could probably best be called Big Meddling Parent — will occasionally use this database to prod diabetics to take better care of themselves.
As you can tell, I’m not too keen about this move.
What happened to the role of personal responsibility? After all, it’s up to each of us to take care of ourselves. Why should the New York City government waste taxpayer dollars to go after diabetics, who just don’t give a darn about what happens to them?
Is it right to nudge a diabetic, "Exercise!" or "Lose weight!" when he or she might be more intent on ignoring the doctor’s recommendations and facing whatever consequences may ensue?
In fact, are such urgings from the New York City Department of Health even going to matter? Isn’t it up to the doctor to drive home the urgency of taking action?
While I’m strongly in favor of educating, nudging and encouraging diabetics, pre-diabetics and people at risk to take drastic lifestyle measures — such as lose weight, kick sugar, exercise and monitor blood glucose levels — the idea of keeping records on them gives me the jitters, to say the least.
This strikes me as way too much control on the part of our government. Furthermore, why keep personal information on people stricken with a disease that’s not contagious nor caused by an environmental toxin?
New York’s health commissioner, Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, told the AP that the potential to save thousands of lives outweighs the medical privacy issue.
“We will ensure that the utmost care will be taken to keep people’s privacy and information protected,” Frieden said.
In fact, reportedly, people will even be allowed to opt out of the program.
Can you imagine the nightmarish task to keep the right people in the program and the wrong people out and what would happen if government makes a mistake and distributes this personal info against the person’s wishes?
I’m just not convinced. Instead I think it makes much more sense for New York to embark upon a massive education campaign and spend the money that would be used for the program to explain to New York diabetics that if they aggressively monitor their condition, they’re far less likely to develop such fatal or debilitating symptoms as blindness, kidney failure and heart problems.
Why not partner with the American Diabetes Association, which already does a wonderful job of telling people how monitoring diabetes closely can result in better health over the long term?
Besides, I’d much rather have my taxpayer money go to help people who want to help themselves.
That’s my take on all this governmental meddling.