You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist 137. The Crisis in Pediatric Care: Dr. Nikki Johnson on Medical Ethics & Patient Advocacy
My guest today is Dr. Nikki Johnson, a former pediatrician and co-director of FAIR in Medicine. We dive deep into the challenges parents face in finding trustworthy medical providers for their children and the broader implications of the current healthcare system. Dr. Nikki shares her journey through medical training and her eventual departure from clinical practice due to ethical concerns and the corporatization of medicine.
We discuss the concept of perverse incentives in healthcare, particularly how insurance reimbursement structures can compromise the quality of care. Dr. Nikki highlights the shift in focus from patient-centered care to a more corporate-driven model, which often prioritizes profit over patient well-being. We also explore some lesser-known impacts of the Affordable Care Act on the medical landscape, including the rise of non-physician providers, and the challenges this poses for traditional medical practices.
Throughout our conversation, we aim to empower parents to trust their instincts when it comes to their children's health and to advocate for better care. We also touch on the importance of transparency in healthcare and the need for a return to a more personal, relationship-driven approach to medicine. This episode is a call to action for parents to be informed and engaged in their children's healthcare decisions.
Nicole “Dr. Nikki” M. Johnson, MD DNBPAS, has a B.S. in Biology from Case Western Reserve University and a medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. Nikki earned certification in both General Pediatrics and Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. She is passionate about reforming healthcare and wishes to see medicine restored to a focus on the individual doctor-patient relationship where physicians are bound by the Hippocratic Oath, and patients have affordable evidence-based care, choice, and transparency. She works as an independent consultant with those who help her achieve her mission. Dr. Nikki has a record of advocacy and service. She is the director of FAIR In Medicine and an advisor for Affirming Reality Connected. She is the past President and a Co-founder of PHYSICIANS FOR PATIENTS and a contributing author of Free2Care’s A Physician-Led Roadmap to Patient-Centered Medical Care. Dr. Nikki also served as a Senior Fellow for Restore Childhood and a team member of Urgency of Normal. She lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband and two daughters.
00:00 Start
[00:00:11] Parental responsibility in healthcare.
[00:06:34] Corporate influence in healthcare.
[00:10:21] Loss of patient care autonomy.
[00:12:13] Healthcare system challenges and solutions.
[00:16:00] Affordable Care Act implications.
[00:19:34] Nursing shortage and healthcare changes.
[00:24:14] ROGD Repair for Parents.
[00:29:43] Medical ethics and political influence.
[00:32:14] Perverse incentives in healthcare.
[00:36:56] Therapy payout disparities and ethics.
[00:40:36] Direct primary care transparency.
[00:43:43] Direct primary care benefits.
[00:49:21] Corporate infiltration in healthcare.
[00:50:39] Pediatric endocrinologists and gender identity.
[00:54:02] Finding the right therapist.
[00:58:06] Parental instincts in healthcare.
[01:01:38] Empowering parental decision-making.
[01:06:55] Parental challenges in healthcare.
[01:10:14] Parental advice on medical issues.
[01:12:54] Parental influence on children's choices.
[01:17:10] Parenting and device management.
[01:21:34] Advocacy against gender ideology.
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Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.
Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.
Watch NO WAY BACK: The Reality of Gender-Affirming Care (our medical ethics documentary, formerly known as Affirmation Generation). Stream the film or purchase a DVD. Use code SOMETHERAPIST to take 20% off your order. Follow us on X @2022affirmation or Instagram at @affirmationgeneration.
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