Uninsured ER patients twice as likely to die

[Contrary1]

Yep. Best medical care in the world here. Can you say death panels? :eyes:

New study highlights disparity of care for those who don't have coverage

"CHICAGO - Uninsured patients with traumatic injuries, such as car crashes, falls and gunshot wounds, were almost twice as likely to die in the hospital as similarly injured patients with health insurance, according to a troubling new study.

The findings by Harvard University researchers surprised doctors and health experts who have believed emergency room care was equitable.

"This is another drop in a sea of evidence that the uninsured fare much worse in their health in the United States," said senior author Dr. Atul Gawande, a Harvard surgeon and medical journalist.

The study, appearing in the November issue of Archives of Surgery, comes as Congress is debating the expansion of health insurance coverage to millions more Americans. It could add fodder to that debate.

The researchers couldn't pin down the reasons behind the differences they found. The uninsured might experience more delays being transferred from hospital to hospital. Or they might get different care. Or they could have more trouble communicating with doctors..."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33971846/ns/health-health_care/

[juno jones]

1. Well I can testify from expereience that getting

a classist doc who is willing to blame anything wrong with you on what he supposes your 'lifestyle' is, recieving outdated and long disused medicines and treatment because they are cheapest, and being sent home to die are possible outcomes for seeking help when you have no insurance.

[Ms. Toad]

2. The other obvious difference

having nothing to do with ER treatment, is that the uninsured may be in poorer health before they received their injuries.

If you can't get routine care, and your body is already run down, it will far harder for it to recover to a traumatic injury that might not otherwise be fatal.

[Kadie]

3. K&R n/t

[The Midway Rebel]

4. Please raise your hand if you have experienced this first hand.

:hi:

This is just the beginning. We will have two health care systems in this country. One for the elite class and one for everybody else.