Time of death 21:00.02

[Fantastic Anarchist]

Note to readers: This is not a story about me. This is a man's personal story on reddit. It gives a face to the reason why we need single-payer in this country. The man's brother, who needed a liver, died last night because he couldn't afford it. His condition, according to his brother, was treatable, except for one glaring thing; he couldn't pay for it.

There are two threads - the back story thread, and the thread about his death.

In the wealthiest nation on earth, this is absolutely abominable.

My brother and I. Not much time left. There's nothing you can do about the diagnosis of "there's nothing we can do".

He had a liver transplant in '02 and lost his insurance last year and we couldn't keep up with his expenses. By the time we got his disability and Medicaid approved, it was too late. We need a new liver but he's so far along, any sort of operation would kill him. Our only hope is the Mayo Clinic but they want $50,000 before they'll evaluate him and then $500,000 to put him on the transplant list.

Time of death 21:00.02

[TBF]

1. This is why we need single payer.

Until we get the profit out we are going to have these sad cases.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

2. And you know what really stings?

Is that Obama and the Democrats are fighting like hell against the conservatives for the ACA. We were told that single-payer would be polarizing, or would be hard to pass, etc.

But guess what? The Republicans (and some Democrats) were going to give that fight anyway. Why not expend effort fighting for something real, like single-payer!

[liberal_at_heart]

4. I whole heartedly agree with you Fantastic Anarchist.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

6. It really is tragic.

Sigh ...

[Bandit]

5. We simply did not have the votes

Remember we had Ben Nelson and Joe Lieberman and a couple of others that simply would not go along with even a Public Option, let alone a Single Payer system. The very best we could do, and still gain a little ground was a Republican Plan that was and is fraught with Problems..

[Fantastic Anarchist]

7. Which is a problem in and of itself.

But the Public Options was off the table.

And I recall that representatives for single-payer weren't even invited to the discussion. It seems to me, that the conclusion was already made.

[Doctor_J]

11. Yep. ACA was passed at the behest of Big Insurance

Like AJ McInerny said in The American President, "You fight the fights you think you can win? Fight the fights that need fighting!"

Corrupt cowards

[Hekate]

3. My condolences to the family, but aren't there way more people needing organs than organs available?

Even in Canada, whose health care model is light years ahead of ours, my friend's son was put on a long waiting list for a new kidney, and only the fact that my friend was willing to donate one of hers to the pool immediately bumped him to the head of the line.

Just sayin' -- it's not always about the money, though in this country that certainly plays a disproportionate part.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

8. True ...

... but money was the main obstacle (the Mayo Clinic). Without the concern for money, he may have had a fighting chance.

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. Especially when we think of the decrepit and evil Mr. Cheney and his brand new ticker.

[Hekate]

10. That kind has a pact with the Devil, and will always find a way

After all China does a little business in transplantable organs on the international market -- some think it has something to do with the death sentences meted out to white collar miscreants. The likes of Cheney will always find a way.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

12. That just makes it even worse.

Ugghh.

I don't really wish death upon anyone, but it's really, really hard not to ...