Do Bill Clinton and the leaders of his health-care reform task force share the same goals? Compare the rhetoric in the president's State of the Union address in January with the Health Security Plan produced by the White House and you'll see big discrepancies on the subject of medical innovation.

In his eloquent speech, the president said reform should "strengthen what is good about our health-care system--the world's best health-care professionals, cutting edge research, and wonderful research institutions." I agree.

The United States is the world leader in biomedical research and innovation. At a breathtaking pace, our scientists and laboratories produce new drugs, medical devices, and surgical techniques that prolong and improve human life and reduce the cost of health care. When these new drugs, devices, and techniques enable people to remain productive instead of becoming disabled, our country's economic well- being improves; and when these same innovations replace older,...

Interested in reading more?

Become a Member of

Receive full access to digital editions of The Scientist, as well as TS Digest, feature stories, more than 35 years of archives, and much more!