Nurses Sound A Code Blue In D.C. On Fast Track & TPP

[n2doc]

With the White House and some of the biggest multinational corporations lobbying Congress to “fast track” the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a massive trade deal between the United States and 11 other countries, National Nurses United today converged on the nation’s capital to explain that what’s good for investors’ balance sheets is not necessarily good for patients.

“Nurses are patient advocates—and by extension advocates of our patients’ families and our communities—and we are here to sound a Code Blue on fast track,” said RN Deborah Burger, a member of the NNU’s Council of Presidents. “While there are many good reasons to reject fast track, the nation’s registered nurses are particularly concerned about these trade agreements’ threats to public health and safety.”

She points to pharmaceutical corporations that would be given years more of monopoly pricing practices on patents for high-priced, brand-name drugs to block distribution of competitive, cheaper, lifesaving generic medications. “That is especially critical for people suffering from cancer, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, and other illnesses in developing countries as well as in the United States,” she said.

Burger was one of dozens of nurses to attend a press conference today with Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut) urging lawmakers to reject fast track legislation for the TPP. Described by former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich as “NAFTA on steroids,” the TPP is largely being negotiated in secret. The Obama administration and Republican lawmakers want Congress to approve fast-track authority, which would require Congress to ratify the treaty but relinquish its Constitutional authority to amend the trade pact in any way.

That cannot happen.

more

https://www.popularresistance.org/nurses-sound-a-code-blue-in-d-c-on-fast-track-tpp/

[merrily]

1. I can't decide which I love more, nurses or the nurses' union.

I've been a very sick inpatient. No offense to docs. They diagnose, cut and prescribe, all of which is very necessary. But, IMO, the nurturing that nurses do is healing--and they do their share of diagnosing, too.

And, every time I hear about the nurses' union taking a position, I think it's great.

I can't decide which I love more.

[tech3149]

3. As someone who has worked with the "healthcare industry"

as a fly on the wall service provider and a dependent on their services, I have seen the best measure for quality of care is the nursing staff. Even when they are facing monumental challenges they will do everything and anything possible to provide the best care possible.
It didn't seem to matter if it was a county hospital,non-profit, profit, or teaching hospital. Most all of the nursing staff cared more about the patient than the paycheck.
I'd go off on a tangent with regards to diagnostic skills but that's for another thread.

[merrily]

8. I cannot say enough good things about the majority of the nurses who cared for me.

The surgeon had to step in to save my life. But, people die after surgery, too. However, I ultimately walked out of that hospital and am alive today because of the nurses.

[djean111]

2. This is great! I hope the TPP is not just a done deal, and the TPP pushers are not smirking behind

those closed doors where they wrote this very corporate coup. Imagine - Investor State courts dictate to sovereign bodies. I think that is well on the way to Fascism.

[merrily]

9. I doubt the Republican Senate will deny advice and consent.

[Divernan]

4. TPP “would effectively outsource domestic food inspection to other countries.”

“The TPP would require us to allow food imports if the exporting country claims that its health and safety laws are ‘equivalent’ to our own, even if they violate the key principles of our food safety laws,” said Van Buren.

That’s problematic, she said, because U.S. food safety regulations currently need to be strengthened, not weakened.

“The U.S. Food and Drug Administration currently checks just 2 percent of imports for contaminants (including drug residues, microbes and heavy metals), according to one study, compared to 20 to 50 percent in Europe, 18 percent in Japan and up to 15 percent in Canada,” Van Buren said. “And when the FDA does inspect seafood imports, it looks for residues from only 13 drugs. In contrast, Europe tests for 34 drugs. That means overseas fish farms can be using a range of drugs for which the U.S. doesn’t even screen.”

Several TPP signatory countries are significant seafood exporters and some have had serious problems with contamination.

[WillyT]

5. K & R !!!

[whereisjustice]

6. TPP exists because Democratic Leadership believes the non-rich have too much wealth in America

[Octafish]

10. At least they're paid to vote that way.

Which also is sad.

[Oilwellian]

7. TPP is a knife to the heart of this nation

If it passes, the consequences will be blamed on Democrats, and rightly so.