This morning my weight-lifting partner Dave and I were finishing off our workout with some much needed cardio. We were on two StairMaster machines that happened to be side by side at the gym. As we climbed, we watched the news on several TV screens in front of us. The topic that kept coming up over and over again was healthcare reform. I literally watched one commentator actually laugh at the plans that were being discussed in Washington. According to the media, this commentator was a healthcare expert, but he couldn't seem to make heads or tails of any of it. He mentioned that "putting a cap on the charitable donations tax exemption" was in one of the plans and that "putting a cap on the amount of healthcare benefits that could be offered by employers" was in another. Do either of those things seem like a good start to you?

Recently I was in my office discussing the economy with a new acquaintance. He was quick to point out that in his mind, there were three "evils" in the world that were actually causing our sagging economy and financial collapse. I was dumbfounded when he gave me the list. They were:

The Oath and Law of Hippocrates, sometimes referred to as the Hippocratic Oath, is perhaps the first document outlining what I term as “Responsible Healthcare.” It is the responsibility of the physician, or anyone providing health care to a patient, to administer that care to the best of their ability. To use all of their knowledge, extensive training and their education to give quality care and ultimately, do everything in their power to save lives – one life at a time.

As a kid, I remember all the excitement leading up to a big thanksgiving dinner one November afternoon. In preparation for a huge extended family reunion, my mother was cooking the biggest feast you've ever seen. She was frantic with all the details and wanted me to help. I don't remember everything about that day, but I do remember that my mom asked me to help set the table. At that moment, getting the table set was the most important thing in her life. After all, you can't eat until the table's set.

It's interesting how fast things can change. After one quick phone call, setting the table became an afterthought. The call informed my mother that her cousin, her cousin's spouse and their two children, who were traveling to our house for the reunion, were in an automobile accident. The parents had been killed and the two young boys were in the hospital. Suddenly, our priorities for that whole weekend shifted from plates and silverware to making sure that two newly orphaned toddlers received the care they deserved.