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ChatterBank1 min ago
US medical service
There have been cases reported in the media where seriously ill patients have been refused treatment pending/until payment could be seen secured in advance. If I am not mistaken, this has included examples of death(s) as a result. What I don't know is whether this was as simple as that or whether it was because the hospital first approached did not do treatment under the government scheme (i.e. strictly private) and therefore was not obliged to treat someone even if a life or death case. The question is: Are all or only some hospitals (or none) in the US obliged to treat emergencies (e.g. injuries) and ask for the money later, or is this a matter for discretion ? Also, any links to reliable case history would be welcome.
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If you want to see an expose of US health care then try to see Michael Moore's film Sicko.
Rather frightening
http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/dvd/
Rather frightening
http://www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/dvd/
I am not based in the US - lots of people travel to the US on short term visits, even the odd Brit too.....and have some odd experiences (which I recalled hearing of). That is what got me wondering what the situation actually is - if I were in the US I might know the answer (or at least be able to easily find it), but I am not and don't....hence asking on here. Maybe I should not have... I recently posted a question and was told to look it up myself.....is AB perhaps only for those who already know the answer ....I must have misunderstood :)
Ah, Sicko, I completely forgot about it (have heard of it but didn't see it, only his first one). Good point, must look out for it, thanks. But, VHG, do you happen to know if it actually deals with the veracity of and reason(s) for medical services' refusals to treat emergencies ?
Ah, Sicko, I completely forgot about it (have heard of it but didn't see it, only his first one). Good point, must look out for it, thanks. But, VHG, do you happen to know if it actually deals with the veracity of and reason(s) for medical services' refusals to treat emergencies ?
It is a documentary but not a detailed study of the American health industry.
However it does look at individual people who either could ot get health insurance (already ill), or who had their insurance cancelled AFTER they got ill, or people who got treatement but the health company tried to find out if they lied on their original form so they could cancel it.
There was also the story of one guy who had medical insurance, but then got cancer (I think it was) but the treatment was expensive so the health people said the treatment was still in a testing stage and refused to give it, and the bloke died.
Michael Moore also looks at a number of people who helped clear up after 9/11, but then got ill (due to the dust) and now cant get health treatment.
He takes then to Guantanemo Bay (where the terrorists are being held) to see if they will treat them (as they are already treating the terrorist to top class health care).
They refuse, so he takes them to Cuba, where they get treatment for free.
He also covers how rich the people who own these health companies are and how they bribe US politicians to make sure they stay rich.
It is an amazing film and everyone should watch it.
However it does look at individual people who either could ot get health insurance (already ill), or who had their insurance cancelled AFTER they got ill, or people who got treatement but the health company tried to find out if they lied on their original form so they could cancel it.
There was also the story of one guy who had medical insurance, but then got cancer (I think it was) but the treatment was expensive so the health people said the treatment was still in a testing stage and refused to give it, and the bloke died.
Michael Moore also looks at a number of people who helped clear up after 9/11, but then got ill (due to the dust) and now cant get health treatment.
He takes then to Guantanemo Bay (where the terrorists are being held) to see if they will treat them (as they are already treating the terrorist to top class health care).
They refuse, so he takes them to Cuba, where they get treatment for free.
He also covers how rich the people who own these health companies are and how they bribe US politicians to make sure they stay rich.
It is an amazing film and everyone should watch it.
I forgot.
There is one story about an old lady who goes to a hospital to get tretment, but has no insurance so the hospital wont treat her.
The hospital puts her in a taxi (on her own) and tells the driver to drop her off outside another public (free) hospital.
He does that (and just drives off), and she wanders round dazed (nearly getting run over) before someone from the hospital goes outside to find out how she is.
They take her in and treat her but say often the local hospitals dump patients on the doorstep of their hospital.
Frightening stuff.
There is one story about an old lady who goes to a hospital to get tretment, but has no insurance so the hospital wont treat her.
The hospital puts her in a taxi (on her own) and tells the driver to drop her off outside another public (free) hospital.
He does that (and just drives off), and she wanders round dazed (nearly getting run over) before someone from the hospital goes outside to find out how she is.
They take her in and treat her but say often the local hospitals dump patients on the doorstep of their hospital.
Frightening stuff.
Yes, VHG, there is a lot that is frightening about the state of the US. Just an aside, there is one awful statistical fact from there that really is shocking and I have been unable to get out of my mind for many months now, it goes like this: The single greatest risk to a pregnant woman's life is that she will be killed by the baby's father. Before for drawing attention to this black mark I get accused of hating Americans, let me say that I got this information from one of the best known US sources, Oprah Winfrey (I did not make it up).
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