Bobby Butterworth

By April Lowe ⋅ April 28, 2009 ⋅

My Friend, Bobby Butterworth had some chest pains a month ago, on a Thursday. We told him to go to the ER. He decided to wait the evening, because he had no insurance - He felt a hospital bill would bankrupt him and leave him on the street (the ER asks for money up front now, humiliating you if you can\’t pay.) By Friday, he was dead. We buried him on a Wednesday. It is just NOT FAIR that a hardworking american has to make a decision to seek healtcare or keep a roof over his head.

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Discussion

  1. Posted by Sarah Skinner | October 3, 2009, 2:44 pm

    Could you imagine if your house was on fire and you had to give the fire department cash, check or a credit card before they would put the fire out? How about the police department? Somethings should be part of our society. Health care is one of them. People shouldn’t have to choose between their health or a home.

  2. Posted by J Jones | October 28, 2009, 4:21 pm

    I work at the ER and yes we do ask for a payment, but treatment is never refused if that payment cannot be met, and never have I seen anyone humiliting someone because they cannot pay. The hospital also offers financial assistants to many patients that qualify. Also ABCCM and the health department provide care for patients for free ( as far as I know)

  3. Posted by leslie | October 29, 2009, 10:43 am

    The ER is a great place for emergencies, but not for regular health care — it just isn’t equipped to do that. We need a better solution. ABCCM will offer care, but it can’t see everyone. The wait to see a physician can be weeks because of the need. The health department isn’t taking any new patients. Many of the people who work in the system are good people, but the system is broken.

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