In my opinion, the small clip of the movie that we watched today during Professor Stern's lecture spoke greatly about the horrible condition of our health care systems. The scene where Reinaldo was sleeping in the hospital bed spoke to me in particular. Upon comparing Reinaldo with the man in the hospital bed next to him, there were some shocking differences. First, the white male had a clean hospital gown and a bed with blankets whereas Reinaldo was left in his own dirty clothes curling up for warmth. Secondly, the white male had some sort of breathing apparatus attached to him (a sign of medical/doctor attention & care). Reinaldo on the other hand, showed no visible signs of being treated or cared for. The only sign was the wheelchair that was offered to him upon his leaving, and even then it was brought to him by a black nurse.
I think that this just reinforces latino/a distrust in our health system. I mean, even if they manage to gather up courage to seek medical attention, that still get shortchanged on proper treatment and care which ultimately is going to prevent them from trying to come again.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I agree with Courtney that the situation that he faced was really unfair. However, I think that this isn't just something that Latinos face, but rather minorities in general, specifically those without insurance. Hospitals are only legally required to stabilize patients without insurance, and then they are allowed to send them elsewhere. Those costs that the patients are unable to pay are left to the hospital and subsequently those patients who are able to afford insurance. I agree that he was treated poorly, however the hospital did what the law requires it to do, and everyone without insurance faces the same problems so I don't believe it's a matter of race, but of poverty and inability to secure an insurance policy.
I wholeheartedly agree with Amee. I was warned that when I lost health insurance, that how I was treated would change. Being young, healthy, and idealistic I didn't listen. Within 2 months of losing health insurance, I had accident. The treatment I received as an uninsured person compared to what I had been used to was like night and day. I was charged for services that I didn't receive, and charged more than I should have been for those that I did. I also wasn't told about treatment options available because it was assumed that I wouldn't be able to pay. Our health care system is definitely broken. It treats patients as paychecks and if you don't have insurance, regardless of race, you don't matter anymore.
I agree with Amee and Amber, the hospital scene adds one more level to the illustration of hopelessness that he faced. He faced not only the isolation of havign HIV/AIDS, but also the the isolation of being away from the comfort of where he grew up. The actions and maltreatment of the hospital further added to and worsened the solitude he felt. Most sad of all is that in the end he preferred suicide to returning to the hospital to die.
Post a Comment