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Does Every Person "Deserve" Health Care?
Anthony Rudine -- Probably the most difficult topic I have had to wrap my mind around is also probably the most controversial in American medicine today – the uninsured. So I guess it is about time for my two cents.
Let me give you my personal history on this. Formerly, before working in the hospital, even before medical school, I firmly believed that healthcare was a privilege to be provided to contributing members of US society. I believed that illegal immigrants and everyone else were a drain on the economy and did not deserve the resources of the taxpaying American citizens. I believed that their health problems were a result of their bad decisions and I certainly wanted nothing to do with paying for their, usually, very expensive treatments.
Now, I am not sure what I believe. Seeing patients in the hospital has really put a face on American healthcare and consumers for me. Sickness and disease are certainly color blind and show no mercy, whether wealthy or poor.
Additionally, US citizens are frequently denied treatment, or at least timely treatment, because they are unfunded as well. Illegal immigrants, a very touchy subject, have gained press recently as people finally realize what a catastrophic implosion it would be to not allow them to work. And their healthcare is restricted just like citizens.
I guess the bottom line in your beliefs boils down to a philosophical question for which no right answer exists. Is healthcare a right or a privilege? Do all those who come upon you asking for treatment deserve the best treatment available, or are tiers of healthcare necessary?
I firmly believe that those in need should be helped. But to what extent? We have all heard the economic arguments regarding healthcare – that the majority of money is spent on the final months of a person’s life. But is it their right to receive this healthcare even though it may hurt a future patient’s chances of receiving treatment? Should a life be prolonged at any cost irrespective of the cost it takes to prolong it?
I think there is likely no right answer. I certainly do not have one. I want to know what you think.
August 17, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
Certain things in life are considered essential and that includes healthcare. Legally it is not a right in US, but within ALL other industrialized nations of the world - health care is a right.
"Illegal immigrants and everyone else" have probably contributed much more to the current economy than the average medical student. They contribute more to the economy than people ever give them credit for.
Posted by: Loping | Aug 17, 2006 11:05:29 PM
Well I certainly believe that all are entitle to healthcare. No matter what. The problem I have in even saying that though is that healthcare is expensive. Most people do not realize that to even get a medical license today requires an undergrad degree at a cost of approximately $100,000 plu a medical school degree at a cost of approximately $160,000. That is over a quarter of a million dollars and that is not counting residency and internships. I really admire the medical students for being confident in their on abilities to take a chance and go for the degree no matter the cost to them.
When you put the illegal immigrants in the mix, you come up with a finance problem. We need to help them because they are human beings and can not help that they were not born here. However, these same illegal immigrants could work here legally and pay taxes in to the U.S. system so that there would not be such a huge unpaid bill for their care. I do think they need to help with their own care.
With that said. A physician takes an oath to treat all to the best of his ability.....What would Jesus do????
Treat the people.....
sincerely,
vonna
Posted by: vonna | Aug 20, 2006 1:52:42 PM
About 12 years before I came to medical school, I had what I considered to be a decent job for someone with a high school education. I had enough to take care of rent and a car payment, but not much else. Fortuantely, I had good health insurance, I thought, when I had an unusual problem with my kidney, necessitating having it removed and spending about 2 1/2 weeks in the hospital which carried a $50,000 bill. Even after my insurance company paid what it was supposed to pay, I still ended up with a bill that I could not pay, and on top of all those lost wages....I ended up having to file for bankruptcy. I didn't want to do it, but I had no choice.
Today, the climate is different. It is not as easy to file for bankruptcy anymore as it once was. But the point is the same: having one catastrophic illness can financially wipe out a person and their family. Try to find a scapegoat population if you will, but the issue remains the same.
So even for "contributing citizens," all it takes is one major illness, regardless of whether or not one makes a full recovery and comes back to being a "contributing citizen." This problem is about regular, work-a-day people who live in the US who are not independently wealthy. Is this what our country is about? Every man/woman for him/herself? Perhaps this is a question to ask of our candidates running for office.
Teresa
Posted by: Teresa | Aug 22, 2006 1:39:04 PM
Maybe the problem is the cost of healthcare first, and medical insurance coverage second. Isn't it sad that spending two or three days in a hospital to have a baby or your appendix removed can run you around $40,000, and the cost of a hospital tooth brush is about $8-lets not even talk about the DIFFICULT task of checking a persons oxygen saturation which will cost them some $45! To put a probe on someones finger, get a number, and take it off! Now, I know providing healthcare is very expensive, but if the healthcare industry would be more reasonable about their costs than having a kidney removed may not mean draining a persons life savings!
Secondly, about medical coverage. I have worked in a hospital as a CNA for 4 years, on adult floors, maternity, neonatal IC, and pediatrics-I have seen a lot when it comes to illigal immigrants and uninsured people. On one hand, if they come here-they should do it the right way. On another, sometimes that's not always an option. I took care of a baby whose mother brought him/her here because she knew something was wrong but doctors in their country insisted everything was fine. It turned out that the baby had a terminal illness and about a month to live. However, after she got this news, she immediately wanted to bring the baby back to Mexico for his final days to be spent with his family. The problem was, that since he had no documentation of being born here and had none of the necessary paperwork to be in this country-they wouldn't let her bring the baby back over the boarder. Getting the proper paperwork filed and getting here the "right" way is often a very LONG process-and with the human body, sometimes time is not a luxury.
So, I have seen both sides of the story-I have seen my fair share of uninsured families with chronically ill children try to work the system and get as much as they can because they know it is free. Also, I have seen terrified mothers who speak no english, with a look of horror in their eyes that their baby has to be admitted to the hospital-not just because their sick enough to be there, they already knew that because taking them to the hospital is the LAST thing they want to do. They fear deportation, they fear that the hospital will kick them out when they see they have no insurance...they tip-toe around hoping no one will ask enough questions to realize they really have no right to be in this country. Too many families wait until their children are TOO sick to bring them to the hospital in fear of all of the things I have talked about.
If healthcare were universal, then the people of the U.S. would be better off financially, health-fully and emotionally. Sorry this was so long, this is a very important topic and I hope more people will become concerned because it is a very big problem-babies todddlers and children cant get jobs to be able to afford healthcare!
Posted by: Casey Connolly | Aug 25, 2006 6:57:40 PM
To say that illegal imnigrants do not contribute to the society, but only draw on its resources is unfair and untrue in several ways.
An illegal immigrant contrary to the popular belief does pay taxes, directly and indirectly as well. In many cases they work under somebody else's identity (SSN)therefore are obliged to file the income tax return. In cases where they truly work undocumented (cash in hand), when the money is spent on rent, clothes, cars etc. the sales taxes go to the state coffers. It is the state budget that covers many of the services that are provided on a free basis. It would be my guess, but I am pretty sure that an illegal immigrant thinks twice before heading to the emergency with flu symptoms and even more serious ailments. The downside to that is that not only do people suffer, in a number of cases conditions become worse and could lead to serious morbidity if not treated in time.
Posted by: Pavlo | Aug 29, 2006 9:22:57 AM
