[cherubhipster]

http://www.salon.com/mwt/vital_signs.../16/residents/

It's nice to see this kind of stuff out there. Written by a Doctor, but it applies to all americans. I wish our politicians would read these articles too.

[txredheadnurse]

Absolutely spot on. It is refreshing to read something so real that many of us deal with on a daily basis.

[oramar]

I know it is not illegal for a surgeon to turn his back on a injured child without insurance. However I think it is unethical and immoral. I know a lot of people who would have treated the kid anyway.

[kstec]

It makes me sick, but it is a reality. I worked family practice up until March of this year. I can recall many of times we would have a peds patient on Medicaid who needed a specialist, whether it be ortho, gi, or whatever else. I knew the routine when I called to set up the appt. First,I would answer the almighty question "What's their insurance", My response "Medicaid". Then it was give us their information and we will call them when we have an opening until then they can go to the ER if the conditions worsens. Also, they would say that the doctors have to decide who is going to take the next probono (sp)/medicaid patient. I always wanted to vomit. It made me sick to my stomach. We are supposedly the richest country in the world, yet we are the greediest. I know hospitals/clinics need to make money to stay open, but we went into healthcare to take care of people, not to get rich. And if you did go into it for the money, may carma come around and bite you in the A$$. I wonder if the resident/doctor who wrote this still feels this way or has come to the dark side of healthcare (greed and profit).

[Vito Andolini]

Originally Posted by cherubhipster

http://www.salon.com/mwt/vital_signs.../16/residents/

It's nice to see this kind of stuff out there. Written by a Doctor, but it applies to all americans. I wish our politicians would read these articles too.

I just sent the article to my 2 US Senators and my state Reps.

If we want our politicans to read these articles, we have to make sure they get the chance. I want to ask everyone who reads this article to send it to your own state reps and senators and US senators and Reps, also.

It's up to you and me to make sure this stuff quits happening. No one else will or should be expected to do the work that you and I should be doing, I guess. Let's each one reach one.

I hope that particular little boy is alright. I hope that surgeon who inflicted unnecessary agony and risk of infection and limb loss upon him and humiliation and terror upon his family dies a thousand deaths. Or has a serious awakening while in this world and decides to devote his life to doing at least some "charity" care. It is really chilling that people like that surgeon exist. I know they do, they are everywhere, I guess. It's just that I'm used to dealing more with good people - nurses, firefighters, cops, others who are decent and who pretend, at least, to care about hurting kids. I am just appalled. But appalled into action. If I don't do it, who will? Please, everyone who reads this, take a few minutes and go to www.senate.gov to find your senators and I'm sure you can find all of your other state and Fed reps, too. Get them notified so they can get working on all of this. Thank you.

Brother Vito

[wooh]

My family had to fight to find a surgeon to fix my handicapped little sister's fractured femur. Thankfully, being a nurse, I knew the magic words to get the ER that had discharged her with promise of an ortho surgery follow up appointment to help. "I need to speak with Risk Management." It finally got back to the ER doc that had discharged her thinking he'd found her follow up. He was LIVID when he found out that the surgeon who had said he'd see her ended up refusing to see her. He took it on as a mission and got her seen at a public hospital for a different county. They ended up doing a great job. But I spent a day calling EVERY ortho surgeon in the area, and not one would see her.
There's a serious problem with our healthcare system. But as long as the haves are more powerful than the have-nots, I don't see anything changing.

[janhetherington]

Yes, this is absolutely terrible!! But it is heading our way more than we realize. It is really getting hard to find a doctor for even some who are "adequately" insured because primary care shortages are letting the doctors still in practice pick and choose who they want as patients. We recently lost our family doctor to a hospital administration job and called about 20 different doctors and got turned down by all of them even though I have good Blue Cross insurance through an employer and my husband has Medicare and a supplement. I have chronic diseases like hypertension so I am too much work and my husband would be another Medicare patient, and we were bluntly told by several offices that the doctors don't want any more of that. Finally we got a doctor fresh out of medical school and just arrived that day in town to take us on. I can't really blame the doctors though. The paperwork and regulations are killing them financially and we all know what working with the American public is like these days. But what good will universal health care be if there isn't anybody to care for people?

[Vito Andolini]

Originally Posted by wooh

My family had to fight to find a surgeon to fix my handicapped little sister's fractured femur. Thankfully, being a nurse, I knew the magic words to get the ER that had discharged her with promise of an ortho surgery follow up appointment to help. "I need to speak with Risk Management." It finally got back to the ER doc that had discharged her thinking he'd found her follow up. He was LIVID when he found out that the surgeon who had said he'd see her ended up refusing to see her. He took it on as a mission and got her seen at a public hospital for a different county. They ended up doing a great job. But I spent a day calling EVERY ortho surgeon in the area, and not one would see her.
There's a serious problem with our healthcare system. But as long as the haves are more powerful than the have-nots, I don't see anything changing.

We have to try to make the changes, though, Wooh. WE have to do it. Nothing good is lightly won. I forget who said that but it sure is true. No one is going to hand us good health care. YOU had to fight for your sister. WE nurses have to fight for everyone, including ourselves. PLEASE forward that article to the senators and Congressmen/women who represent you at both the state and Fed levels. If you don't do it, who will? Please?

[Vito Andolini]

Originally Posted by janhetherington

Yes, this is absolutely terrible!! But it is heading our way more than we realize. It is really getting hard to find a doctor for even some who are "adequately" insured because primary care shortages are letting the doctors still in practice pick and choose who they want as patients. We recently lost our family doctor to a hospital administration job and called about 20 different doctors and got turned down by all of them even though I have good Blue Cross insurance through an employer and my husband has Medicare and a supplement. I have chronic diseases like hypertension so I am too much work and my husband would be another Medicare patient, and we were bluntly told by several offices that the doctors don't want any more of that. Finally we got a doctor fresh out of medical school and just arrived that day in town to take us on. I can't really blame the doctors though. The paperwork and regulations are killing them financially and we all know what working with the American public is like these days. But what good will universal health care be if there isn't anybody to care for people?

Please see my plea above and below for all of us to forward this article to our state and federal Congress representatives and senators. If we don't inform them, who will? We can't expect other people to do our work. And I say it is our work because we are aware of the issue. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for notifying your reps and senators.

[Vito Andolini]

Originally Posted by oramar

I know it is not illegal for a surgeon to turn his back on a injured child without insurance. However I think it is unethical and immoral. I know a lot of people who would have treated the kid anyway.

\
I think that the parents could probably have afforded to pay something for their child's care, however little. Lack of insurance doesn't mean the parents should expect totally free care. They could have worked out a payment plan. It doesn't have to be all or none.