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Pab Sungenis

(9,612 posts)
Mon Jun 25, 2012, 02:24 PM Jun 2012

Just another health care outrage.

Friday I rushed to my local emergency room showing signs of a detached retina in my right eye. They rushed me up to Wills Eye Center in Philadelphia, which is the only facility anywhere near me that could deal with it.

At the time I got to their ER I had lost 50% of the field of vision in my right eye. I've now lost about 90%.

Being trapped in their ER until 1:30 in the morning I was given a tentative diagnosis. It's not a detached retina but optic neuropathy, where swelling is literally choking off blood flow to my right optic nerve. Basically, my right eye is having a stroke. They have no idea what is causing it, and without knowing the cause they can't treat it.

Now here's the catch. They took blood work and wanted me to make a follow-up appointment to see if they could identify the cause and try to bring the swelling down to see if I can recover my vision.

However (there's always a however) I can't pay for it.

I have no insurance. I have been informed that Wills Eye Center will not take charity care. They wouldn't even quote me a goddamn cash price for the visit, not that I could pay for it anyhow! No follow-up, no blood work, no firm diagnosis, no treatment period.

America, where the poor can just go blind.

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Just another health care outrage. (Original Post) Pab Sungenis Jun 2012 OP
I am sorry, and this IS FUCKED UP nadinbrzezinski Jun 2012 #1
Of course they will DonCoquixote Jun 2012 #3
many of those using trauma centers onethatcares Jun 2012 #4
This almost happened to me DonCoquixote Jun 2012 #2
I am so sorry about your situation. ZombieHorde Jun 2012 #5
 

nadinbrzezinski

(154,021 posts)
1. I am sorry, and this IS FUCKED UP
Mon Jun 25, 2012, 02:27 PM
Jun 2012

first rule of medicine is DO NO DAMN HARM... they are.

Goes will with the story that if the ACA is overturned, my local trauma docs fear trauma centers will start closing left and right.

Who uses those? Many are indeed poor.

DonCoquixote

(13,713 posts)
3. Of course they will
Mon Jun 25, 2012, 02:42 PM
Jun 2012

But, many on the "I hate Obama because I am a Liberal" side will still cheer when ACA is overturned, because they think they can just summon things into being without the steeping stones and building blocks. Never mind who gets hurt, after all, ya gotta break some eggs to make an omelet, right?

onethatcares

(16,576 posts)
4. many of those using trauma centers
Mon Jun 25, 2012, 02:43 PM
Jun 2012

are just suffering from those pesky automobile accident victims.

It's not like they leave home thinking "Hey, I think I'll get hit by a red light runner today"

Our country is getting more f'd up each day.
.

DonCoquixote

(13,713 posts)
2. This almost happened to me
Mon Jun 25, 2012, 02:39 PM
Jun 2012

I had cataracts, and we in tampa had a county plan meant for the poor. Of course, the GOP is trying to kill it, but it saved my sight, even though there was a kicker. They would pay for the op until I was legally blind, so I had to wait for the cataracts to get thick enough.

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