At least somebody’s getting colonoscopies
U.S. Rep. James Inhofe said the other day, in defense of keeping the prison at Guantanamo Bay open, that any prisoner over age 55 could get a colonoscopy, admitting that the prisoners there get better health care tham most Americans.
In defense of Gitmo, Inhofe has admitted that our health care system is in shambles.
I get the irony. Mike died because he couldn’t get a colonoscopy. The words in his medical record are burned into my memory: “Patient needs a colonoscopy but can’t afford one.”
I don’t say we should deny medical treatment to prisoners of war; that would be wrong.
But I do think we should stop denying some 50 million Americans access to care, and Rep. Inhofe is not one who is likely to vote for real reform.
The insurance companies are trying to tell us that a public plan would be a government takeover of health care. That’s a deliberate lie. They just don’t want to compete with a public plan.
Yet Fed Ex and UPS have competed with the US Postal Service for decades and done just fine. The competition has strengthened them, made them better businesses.
Don’t believe the lies. A public plan is not a government takeover. Adam Linker of the N.C. Justice Center says it well: http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2009/05/21/how-exactly-would-a-government-health-care-option-lead-to-a-government-health-care-takeover/
The least we can do is give Americans the same access to care the prisoners at Gitmo have. If Mike had gotten that access, he’d still be alive.
Patient Pals & Family Friends
Life o' Mike has a new peer support program for people newly diagnosed with chronic or serious illness or with a new disability and their caregivers.
Patient Pals are people who have experience with various illnesses and disabilities, who can help someone newly diagnosed or with a new disability work through the fear, frustration, confusion and grief often experienced in the first few months.
Family Friends are there to help caregivers and other family members grow into their new role.
People with new illness or disability fare better when they have a role model -- someone who can help them negotiate their new path in life.
We need volunteers, who are asked to donate a minimum of one hour a week. Training is free and includes information on active listening, ways to help and when to know more help is needed.
And of course, we need funding.
To learn more, call Leslie Boyd at 828-243-6712 or e-mail lifeomike@gmail.com.
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