When thinking about the socialization of medicine–especially through Medicare regulations that lead to the micromanagement of every facet of healthcare, I had to laugh when I recently watched a television advertisement for Bayer aspirin. You may have seen it too. It depicts an airline passenger asking for some pain relief from a flight attendent. She happily offers him Bayer aspirin. MY NURSES CAN”T DO THAT!  Did you know that every single pill that is given at the nursing home; every single care option a nurse may want to give to an ailing patient; and every single plan of action given by nurses and other medical personnel must be personally approved by a physician? That has led to an inundation of paperwork that comes across my desk every day. Now that may make a few doctors feel especially important but not me. It makes me stay later in my office than I would need to signing paperwork AND it makes me personally responsible for things that are completely out of my control, my area of expertise, and my sphere of comfort.