Doxy, of recent fabulous wedding fame, has a post up this evening about a friend who just died of uninsured causes. I phrase the cause of death this way because if Terri-Lynn had had health insurance she would be alive today. Do not "individualize" her case. The loss and grief we feel are for a unique person, but the problem is a systemic one. If we had a decent national health system, Terri-Lynn would have been insured.
Terri-Lynn leaves a ten-year-old child with a chronic illness.
Read Doxy's post, "Elegy."
Once we have wept and prayed, or perhaps while we still weep, let's act. Stay tuned. Doxy has one suggestion, but I am sure she and others will follow up.
Here is a clear, persuasive, factual presentation from 1999 on "The Case for Universal Health Care." More recent, and unconnected with the Green Party (to which you will see a reference in the presentation) is the national association Physicians for a National Health Program.* Tolle lege.
* Physicians for a National Health Program is a non-profit research and education organization of 16,000 physicians, medical students and health professionals who support single-payer national health insurance.
Health care is a human right.
8 comments:
Jane, thank you, love.
Amen. And thank you.
Thanks, Jane.
It is such a crime that the United States does not have decent health care for all.
I did a Lukan riff on it.
Thanks, Jane: good work.
Codeword "presses"! Press on!
Prayers ascending for you all in such an evil system! It can bite anyone of you any time, you know.
I knew such things happened. I just did not want to look at them. Now?
Health care is a particular cause for me because of my own recent history of being lied to by medical facilities and misinformed about Medicare because nobody really understands how it does not work.
I'm linking you and Doxy to my own blog, The Awful Rowing Toward God. It's not a favor, linking to a blog black hole, but I need to offer some thoughts of my own that need to be kept away from your spaces.
It is not just evil (which it certainly is) it is STUPID. Our current system of random and competing discount arrangements with health insurers TOTALLY obfuscates any analysis of where the HEALTH issues are (as opposed to the COST issues) Almost all evaluations of health care are done on the basis of PRICE (to someone or something)rather than an evaluation of cost effective treatment. And it is sadly true, I think, that we will need to deal with issues of cost effectiveness (which is NOT rationing) in order to provide the best available care for all.
And, Jane -- say hello to Ann and Jim if you chance to see them. --- missing Boston ...
Post a Comment