Definitely not directing my doctor.
You realize in countries that have UHC, we get to choose our own doctors, right?
And that the only time the government gets involved is
a) funding the public hospitals
b) paying the doctors and nurses who work in those hospitals
c) paying scheduled fee to the doctors, radiologist, pathology labs etc etc.
d) subsidizing the cost of some medications
At no time does the government have any say in the treatment of patient, the choosing of doctors or specialists.
I heard of one instance (from the partner of the doctor involved) where they a women with a massive hemorrhage following child birth. they pumped $300,000 worth of drugs into her - no calling on government minister, death panels or any such shit, no calling on insurance companies for the go ahead. They just went ahead with the treatment and saved the patient's life.
In fact because the government is so hands off with the choise of doctors there is a part of Adelaide South Australia where the doctor/patient ratio is only 500:1 because the doctors are allowed to say how many patients they take.
Yes there is a shortage of doctors but the Australian Medical Association has a lot to answer for along with the former conservative government. The AMA wanted fewer medical school places and the government gave it to them (while upping the HECS fees several hundred percent so any new graduate comes out with over $100,000 in debt).
Wouldn't surprise me if the AMA in the U.S also wanted a lid kept on the number of training places to protect the income of exiting doctors.
Of course given it takes 10 years to become a GP that patients pay the price.