Comments on Health Care Organizational Ethics: Immigrant Health and Heart Transplants

Hi Celeste - Thank you for your comment. You make...

2009-09-07T09:00:42.646-04:00

Hi Celeste -

Thank you for your comment. You make an important practical point. Disability income and access to Medicare and Medicaid can track separately. As you say, for some folks the health insurance piece is even more important than income.

Your example shows why we need universal insurance. People shouldn't have to scramble for coverage when a serious condition strikes!

Best

Jim

A very frustrating thing (at least in my state). ...

2009-09-05T08:10:14.475-04:00

A very frustrating thing (at least in my state). Patient's become ill. They are told to apply for Social Security Disability -- but then their income is too great on disability to qualify for Medicaid. They do not qualify for Medicare until they are on SSD for (I think) 3 years. For this heart patient, it looks like there were years between diagnosis and death (although he couldn't get SSD so it's a mute point). For some conditions, one doesn't have 3 years.... We went through this with a young girl who needed a bone marrow transplant for HD. At that stage...the "greater" benefit for the patient IS NOT the disability payment; it is the access to medical care.

Hi Ashley - I agree with you that the moment is ...

2009-09-02T07:58:22.590-04:00

Hi Ashley -

I agree with you that the moment is now (actually, long past) for our society to (1) acknowledge our obligation to ensure that every American (including legal immigrants) has access to good health care and (2) make it happen!

I have found the distinction between tragedy and injustice, or, put in different terms, circumstances that are "disappointing but fair," an important conceptual and communicational tool. In my experience most adults can accept disappointment if they see the setting in which it occurs as respectful and acting in a fair and principled manner.

I've been disappointed so far by the degree to which "keep the government off my back" sentiments have drowned out solidarity perspectives of the kind you are arguing for. Keep up your advocacy!

Best

Jim

It is so important to talk about this distinction ...

2009-09-01T11:14:00.407-04:00

It is so important to talk about this distinction between a tragedy and an injustice. I think nobody believes that even an ideal reform bill will eliminate "rationing," as you imply we ration care already (just on a different system). However, we are in a position to push for a more equitable distribution of burden and benefit around health.

The moment is now, I believe, to reassert the value of health as a human right and certainly a reasonable expectation for someone living, working, and contributing to one of the world's wealthiest nations.