How can U. S. citizens, overcome the collusion between Doctors, and
the Government, that prevent the over the counter purchase of hearing
aids, and thus allow the low medical costs indicated in
medicalcountries.org? Hearing Aids could cost $100 instead of the
$2200 that they generally cost. In 1977 the (FDA) stopped permitting
the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids in drug stores and other
retail outlets and started compelling citizens to buy their hearing
aids from Doctors and other professionals, who charged, on average, 22
times more for hearing aids than retailers charged. The Doctors told
the Fed and States that some people had diseases, that only
professionals would discover. This was true in only five percent of
the cases. But, because many could not afford the high prices, 80% of
these people were going without hearing aids. This created a new
pathology. Without hearing aids, these people made mistakes in the
workplace, in social and family situations, annoyed their companions,
who were required to raise their voices when speaking to them, and
gradually, many withdraw from active society. (FDA) regulations state
that a Hearing Aid cannot be sold unless the buyer first receives a
medical evaluation from a licensed physician. So, how do people get
around these provisions and still be able to hear, and buy their food?
YOUR IDEAS--
Add ?YOUR IDEAS?below in each category.
1. Inform the public that a purchaser, over the age of 18, can sign a
written waiver of the requirement that a hearing aid cannot be sold
unless the buyer first receives a medical evaluation from a licensed
physician. YOUR IDEAS-
2. Change the law so that the practitioner is required to write a
prescription that anyone can fill, as long as they sign an affidavit
that states their hearing aid conforms to the prescription, and the
seller agrees to pay the legal costs in case their hearing aid does
not conform to the subscription, or the customer waves this
requirement, and is able to buy whatever they want. YOUR IDEAS--
3. An altruistic Audiologist, Dr. Killion and his wife, seeing the
grief, and injustices that these Doctor requirement caused, petitioned
the (FDA) to allow the over-the-counter sale of hearing aids. Could
you and other people join in with this petition? YOUR IDEAS-
4. Discover what constitutional, state, and federal laws are being
violated by these (FDA) and State requirements? Can a class action
suit be brought to stop these Doctor created injustices? (Some states
have constitutional provisions that requirements and laws cannot be
anti-competitive). Check with lawyers you know to determine what legal
grounds citizens can use to challenge the doctor supported
anti-competitive rules!!! YOUR IDEAS-
5. Inform the public of better keywords to use when searching for
Hearing Aids, on the
Internet, in stores, or mail-order houses. For example,
although ?Hearing Aids? must be
bought from doctors or other professionals, the following
keyword devices, do not:
"listening devices", ?assisted-listening devices?, ?super
hearing devices?, ?sound
amplifier?, ?assisted-listening?, ?sound device?, ?hearing
devices?, ?Hearing products?,
?assistive technology?. On the Internet you can search for
and buy, (In all but 3 states)
?Hearing Aids?. YOUR IDEAS-
6. Where to get, free, cheap, reasonably priced, hearing aids? A) The
Lion?s Club is contracting with a company in India to make hearing
aids with they will sell for 0 to $150 each. B) www.ebay.com, Sells
hearing aids from $2. and up, new and used. C) Hearing Aids that are
listed in the Internet under ?free hearing aids?, and under different
keywords, D). Hearing Aids sold in other countries, and hearing
devices sold to hunters at sports stores. These hunter?s products are
sold for less that $200., in some sports stores, are researched to be
as good as the $2000. Hearing aids, hearing amplifiers sold in Radio
Shack for $25 to $35.YOUR IDEAS--
7. How to rate or compare hearing aids
http://www.ahearingaid.com/comparison.htm
8. Hearing Aid Information
Health Information External Link
http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/hearing/hearingaid.asp
Terms you should know: External Link
http://wuphysicians.wustl.edu/dept.asp?pageID=40&ID=8
Financial Assistance External link http://www.ahearingaid.com/comparison.htm
Financial Assistance External Link http://www.listen-up.org/haidfund.htm
Consumers Union Article-problems with your suppliers- External Link
http://www.consumersunion.org/pdf/HearingAids.pdf
External Link
http://www.consumersunion.org/consumeronline/pastissues/healthcare/hearingaids.html
Wall Street Journal-Cheap Aids- External Link
http://webreprints.djreprints.com/1005421313607.html
Hearing Loss people write about their problems External Link
http://www.hearinglossweb.com/discus/messages/12/12.html
Hearing Audiogram Explained External Link http://www.earinfo.com/howread1.html
Audiogram explained External Link
http://www.healthyhearing.com/library/article_content.asp?article_id=725
9. I would be helpful if buyers, or the government, required a
technical, engineering
description of the capacity of a hearing device, such as db
gain, frequency response,
etc. as you do with the monitors or the computers that you
buy!!!!! Happy 4th of July,
FREEDOM FROM DOCTORS, AND GOVERNMENT COLLUSION DAY!!!!!!! |
