Carly Yuenger
On today's show we visit the doctor's office in countries around the world with journalist and author T.R. Reid.
How "American" is the health care system in the United States? Could it reflect our values and priorities better than it does now? What elements from other nations' health care systems would you like to see incorporated into a renewed American system? Share your thoughts and experiences in health care in the U.S. and abroad by adding a comment below.
Posts
Nov. 8-12 Programs
14 years ago
1 comment:
I was sick today from work while listening to your show. I am very grateful for having health insurance through work.
I wanted to echo a caller's comment to those that think they have health insurance... just lose your job and you'll think twice about this.
I also want to share what my Polish grandmother recently went through at a hospital in Warsaw, Poland. Poland is a developing country in the EU. It has universal health care that is bankrupt. She broke her arm and did not receive proper blood thinner (because it is expensive so they have to ration it) which exacerbated her situation to the point that her life was put in danger. My mother had to bribe the doctor to keep her in the intensive care unit until the end (because of the relatively better care). My grandmother said that one night two people died and she slept with cadavers until 7 in the morning when the bodies were removed. She also had to witness insulting behavior by one nurse who teased an older gentleman for asking help to drink water.
I mention this not becuase I think this is the direction that Obama's health care reform will take us but rather as a stark comparison to other realities and how fortunate most of us are in the US. I believe Obama's reform is necessary if we want to sustain any sort of quality health care in the long term (due to exacerbating costs). And more importantly health care is a universal right to all. How America can look itself in the mirror with such pride and not provide basic health to its people (and not only citizens) is the shame of the century.
Thanks again for such an enlightening and argumentative show!
Patrick
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