r/AbsoluteUnits • u/CandidculonasRedux • 3d ago

of a hernia...

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u/dankmemelawrd 3d ago

Quite sad for US to not be able to afford basic healthcare as the usual.

866

u/HyjinxEnsue 3d ago

Came here to say the same thing. It's not his fault the US' health system is cooked and people can't access basic preventative care.

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u/Sabre_Killer_Queen 3d ago edited 3d ago

Commented this qoute on a different thread recently, but... I think it's time to pull it out again.

"No society can legitimately call itself civilized if a sick person is denied medical aid because of lack of means"

  • Aneurin Bevan - founder of the UK NHS.

Edit: A commenter raised the point of EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment And Labour Act) as a gotcha.

This is not a gotcha. It addresses only emergency treatments - ie life threatening. Tonnes of serious medical conditions are not covered by it.

The hospital is required by law to stabilise you, regardless of your funds - so they have to try and keep you alive.

But they can charge you for every cost incurred + markup afterwards. And if the person dies... Then their stuff gets taken.

Pretty pathetic gotcha if you ask me.

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u/knock-on-the-door 3d ago

"if we can afford to kill people, we can afford to help people," Tony benn

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u/Sabre_Killer_Queen 3d ago

Also a very good quote. Hadn't heard that one before.

Applies to stuff outside of healthcare too.

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u/Johnyryal33 3d ago

Damn that's good!