Posted on 12/21/2011 1:45:15 PM PST by moonshinner_09
Without treatment to replace his failing kidneys, doctors knew, the man in Bellevue hospital would die. He was a waiter in his early 30s, a husband and father of two, so well liked at the Manhattan restaurant where he had worked for a decade that everyone from the customers to the dishwasher was donating money to help his family.
He was also an illegal immigrant. So when his younger brother volunteered to donate a kidney to restore him to normal life, they encountered a health care paradox: the government would pay for a lifetime of dialysis, costing $75,000 a year, but not for the $100,000 transplant that would make it unnecessary.
For nearly two years, the brothers and their supporters have been hunting for a way to make the transplant happen. Their journey has taken them through a maze of conflicting laws, private insurance conundrums and ethical quandaries, back to the national impasse between health care and immigration policies.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
The government will pay an illegal $75,000 a year for dialysis?
Should be changed to “taxpayers are forced to pay $75,000 a year for dialysis for Mexican citizens, while American citizens _____ fill in the blank.
Are turned away... Die in the street... are not treated at all in Mexico...
You get what you vote for, and we deserve this in spades.
We should have treaties with other nations that send us their citizens: we’ll provide compassionate medical care for your citizens, but you’ll get the bill.
If you want them to go home for treatment, fine, we’ll load them on a plane, but don’t expect us to let them back in; we’re locking the door behind them.
leave it to the US taxpayers...
You make a good point, assuming they are Roman Catholic (as I am). One collection in the NYC Diocese could probably make a big collection, but any of the larger religious organizations could handle this. More importantly, why doesn’t his government foot the bill?
“The government will pay an illegal $75,000 a year for dialysis?”
I love the way they say this, like the gubmint has been busting its ass to earn the money to pay this bill.
I guess they have to pay dialysis if his health deteriorates enough and walks into an emergency room.
I’ve been reading as much of the comments at the Newyorkslimes as I can stomach. Liberals are retarded.
"But at one hospital, administrators apparently overruled surgeons willing to waive their fees."
First, we don't know if he's Catholic. (Less than 25% of the Mexican illegals are members of Catholic parishes.) Although Catholic hospitals do provide services regardless of religous affiliation.
Seond, we don't know if he's asked a Catholic hospital.
Third, we don't know (as above) whether Catholic surgeons have offered to waive payment, but all Cathoilic hspitals offer quite a bit of free lifesaving care to the indigent. Nor do we know what the dollar limit is (there must be some limit.)
There are hospitals in Mexico which would do it at less than half the cost of surgery here in the U.S. I will pray that he goes to Mexico and they can save his life.
"But at one hospital, administrators apparently overruled surgeons willing to waive their fees."
First, we don't know if he's Catholic. (Less than 25% of the Mexican illegals are members of Catholic parishes.) Although Catholic hospitals do provide services regardless of religous affiliation.
Seond, we don't know if he's asked a Catholic hospital.
Third, we don't know (as above) whether Catholic surgeons have offered to waive payment, but all Cathoilic hspitals offer quite a bit of free lifesaving care to the indigent. Nor do we know what the dollar limit is (there must be some limit.)
There are hospitals in Mexico which would do it at less than half the cost of surgery here in the U.S. I will pray that he goes to Mexico and they can save his life.
Why not get him the best health care, send him to Cuba.
WE will be getting an avalance of these sob stories leading up to the election in order to get the female vote for zero.
“Personally, I’m troubled by it,” said Dr. Sander Florman, who directs the Recanati/Miller Transplantation Institute at Mount Sinai. “We’re looking at human beings.”
Since we have two wealthy doctors for whom cost and status are of no concern, why don't they just pay for these things. Two hundred grand doesn't seem out of line for huan beings. They can split the cost.
Why can’t Mexico pay for the care of its citizens?
medicare or medicaide will pay about $75k for the dialysis but i don’t think it would be all that much cheaper for the transplant plus the anti-rejection drugs
ping
First, we don’t know if he’s Catholic. (Less than 25% of the Mexican illegals are members of Catholic parishes.) Although Catholic hospitals do provide services regardless of religous affiliation.
Seond, we don’t know if he’s asked a Catholic hospital.
What does it matter if he is Catholic or not ? I am not Catholic,but I can show up at one of their hospitals and they must provide me treatment. Catholic hospitals do provide services regardless of religous affiliation, by law they have to treat anyone who shows up at the ER, they are not doing anything special. Every other hospital in town does the same thing.Where is welcome the stranger at here ? Isn’t this what the church states, welcome the stranger ? Where is Catholic church hospitals with come, we welcome strangers, we will provide all needed medical services.The Catholic hospitals do not want to be involved,due to the costly expense of this medical treatment. How are illegals getting Medicaid? Do they get fake SS numbers? I’ve been wondering how this works. Medicaid would be paying this $75,000 a year,
How does this illegal not getting expensive treatment he is not entitled to turn into a bash-Catholics thread?
I tell you what... why don't YOU pay for his treatment (since you are so willing to donate other people's time and money)?
I wonder how much it costs taxpayers a year for the drugs and testing he will have to have for the rest of his life?
Catholic hospitals take care of basic care for anyone who walks in their doors, as do most other hospitals. And like any other hospital, they are not rolling in money. They are not run by the “Catholic Church”. Many are run by religious orders, some are run by the Diocese in which they’re located, and some are privately owned.
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