Must-read book of 2012: Public hospital’s sad tale

[LiberalAndProud]

The young, idealistic doctor had gotten through medical school and his first most difficult years with a belief that access to health care is a fundamental human right, so he was dumbstruck by the role race played in Chicago’s health and well-being. When Ansell arrived at County, patients were routinely dumped there because other hospitals simply refused to care for them.

“The presence of the County Hospital allowed for the extraordinary exclusion of black patients from almost all other hospitals,” Ansell wrote. “This was a form of Jim Crowism as heinous as any practiced in the Deep South and enforced, not by law, but by the collective behavior of an entire city’s establishment.”

-snip-

“I see waiting lists [at Stroger Hospital] so long that they say you can go blind waiting for an eye doctor appointment. At other hospitals, you can get an appointment the next day. “

It is shocking — and necessary — to read about third-world patient care just a few miles from the Magnificent Mile.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/cepeda/9599059-452/must-read-book-of-2012-public-hospitals-sad-tale.html

Now that we have Health Insurance Reform out of the way, maybe we can finally get around to Health Care.

Not likely, huh?

[mascarax]

1. Am definitely going to buy

Thanks for posting about this book...sounds really good.

[MedicalAdmin]

2. Thanks for posting that.

You will pardon me for not reading that but my book list doesn't have room for it.

I lack the time due to a lack of medical care. I don't have long and I'm afraid that new books aren't going to be gotten to anymore.

Excellent post btw. It warms my heart that a few others getthis problem and will continue to work on it after I am gone.

[LiberalAndProud]

3. You're welcome.

I have been following your narrative on the choices you are faced with, given the rationing-by-wealth that governs our health care system today. I have preemptively made the same choice that you ultimately have had to make. The interesting thing about that is that making that choice will translate to a new tax, because I can't afford the overpriced, under performing commodity we call health insurance in this country. If I could afford it, I would still make that choice because I refuse to be compelled to underwrite an immoral industry who's only purpose to exist is to profit from others' terrible misfortune.

I am so very sorry that it has come to this for you and your family. It breaks my heart. It erodes my spirit. It is immoral in every sense of that word.

I wish that we could fix this travesty in time to help you. Many more will die before we address this -- if we ever manage to address it. That is despicable and illustrates everything that is wrong with our society. The thing is, most of America wants to fix this, but we can't seem to elect representatives who will make it reality.

I wish I could do more than wish you well. This is what despair feels like.

[MedicalAdmin]

4. Don't feel despair.

Live your life with joy and verve. It's the best revenge.

Other than going too early I really don't have any regrets. I've taken my chances and made my mark. If it wasn't for a few bad breaks I would be golden.

If you want to despair for anything, despair that everyone is only a moment away from losing it all. But isn't it alway that way for everyone.

Lifes a gamble. On the whole I've won more than I lost.