I just read
Death Be Not Proud (But It Is Cost-Effective) by Chez Pazienza. In his story, Chez talks about his stay in the hospital to have a marble-sized brain tumor removed. Across the room during his stay in neuro ICU, he saw a person far worse off than himself: staples all around his head, barely able to stay conscious, unable to speak. After a few days of this, Chez asked the nurse what had happened to the other person.
It was the same thing.
The difference? Chez had good insurance, and the other person didn't. So Chez got the modern surgery with the latest technology, and the other guy got the Neolithic version. The other patient's family came to visit, clearly heartbroken at his condition, not knowing whether he'd ever be the same. And knowing that even if he'd survive, he'd have years of physical therapy ahead of him.
Then there was the story of the girl whose insurance company denied a liver transplant, calling it "experimental", sending her to her death. He says:
Regardless of what Fox business-creature Neil Cavuto may have to say on the subject, healthcare and profit are two thoroughly antithetical concepts. Giving CEOs the authority to stand on the edge of the arena and issue a final thumbs-up or down while we lay incapacitated or dying is like charging a lion with protecting the Christians.
I entirely agree.
Comments
Thu, 21.08.2008 02:22
He could recycle it, but first ly, it's much more efficient i n the long term for it not to be sent in the first pla [...]
Thu, 21.08.2008 00:48
Nice one! You've inspired me to do something about these an noying PennySaver catalogues - like you, I hate junk m [...]
Wed, 20.08.2008 22:00
"I will never understand why p eople like yourself like to ma ke mountains out of (making mo untains out of)^n mole h [...]
Wed, 20.08.2008 21:54
I'm not subverting the law; th is usage of it has been explic itly approved and encouraged b y the Supreme Court, and [...]
Wed, 20.08.2008 20:47
How proud you must be, subvert ing an obscure law for your ow n, unrelated ends. I can only guess you're one to ran [...]
Wed, 20.08.2008 20:17
Good on you for sticking it ou t; I must admit I tend to just follow the 'straight to recyc ling' because I tend to [...]
Wed, 20.08.2008 19:29
I will never understand why pe ople like yourself like to mak e mountains out of making moun tains out of mole hills. [...]
Wed, 20.08.2008 19:03
I will never understand why pe ople like yourself like to mak e mountains out of mole hills. Put the paper in the r [...]