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tblue37

(66,035 posts)
42. Especially for the young and healthy sometimes. At age 34 my
Tue Oct 29, 2013, 07:07 AM
Oct 2013

sister almost died from it. At first she kept ignoring her persistent "cold" because she was so busy with 3 small kids, and mothers often take care of themselves last. Then, when she felt bad enough to finally try to see a doctor, the receptionist kept pushing her off, because the doctors were booked solid for 2 weeks--not uncommon, since certain forms of insurance coverage at the time enabled people to see a doctor for litttle or no co-pay for even the most minor issues. Finally, her mother-in-law found her collapsed and unconscious on the floor. When she took her to the emergency room, they admitted her immediately. The doctors said she was lucky that she was found and brought in then, because she probably would not have lasted another day.

In my late 40s I also became seriously ill with pneumonia. I had been masking my symptoms with DayQuil because I needed to keep making it to work. When I finally found time to see the doctor, I stopped taking the DayQuil so she would be able to actually see what my symptoms were. By the time I got in to see her, after a nearly one-hour wait in the waiting room, I had to be pretty much carried in, because I was too weak to lift my head and walk. They took me to X-ray in a wheelchair, with my head hanging down from weakness. I could have died, simply because like most relatively young, healthy people, I did not think my "little cold" was serious enough to take time off work or to see a doctor. (Of course, if employers were more reasonable about letting people miss work for illness, that would happen less often.)

"You're on your own." Tarheel_Dem Oct 2013 #1
He chose to be sick. Too bad! Rectangle Oct 2013 #25
sickening ? kardonb Oct 2013 #30
Wow. Rex Oct 2013 #2
Unless she signed something saying she would pay the bills, his mother cannot be held responsible... nessa Oct 2013 #3
Right, and I hope/wish his mother, elleng Oct 2013 #5
I hope your friend reported that company to his state Attorney General dflprincess Oct 2013 #24
Hospitals and collections agencies do hit up relatives of adults who die Mariana Oct 2013 #27
.i.e., he lived (and died) the Tea Party's wish for America TheCowsCameHome Oct 2013 #4
I wonder dem in texas Oct 2013 #6
Pneumonia can be very dangerous, even for young, healthy people. Mariana Oct 2013 #28
Especially for the young and healthy sometimes. At age 34 my tblue37 Oct 2013 #42
That's the primary reason, that the right wing Libertarian Party is wrong, they don't believe in the Uncle Joe Oct 2013 #7
The freedom to die... CTyankee Oct 2013 #8
I guess the lesson here is that this man just didn't SheilaT Oct 2013 #15
"freedom," my ass! noiretextatique Oct 2013 #9
Ron Paul, Anti-Humanitarian Blue Owl Oct 2013 #10
I wrote a post on this for our blog and got a response from the campaign rurallib Oct 2013 #11
elleng Diclotican Oct 2013 #12
Happy to hear you have received good care elleng Oct 2013 #13
elleng Diclotican Oct 2013 #21
Sure is a hard way to lose weight! elleng Oct 2013 #23
"Should we just let him die? YEEEEAAAAAHHHH!!!!!" bullwinkle428 Oct 2013 #14
Ditto. elleng Oct 2013 #16
Yes the inner humanity of the baggers really shone through, huh? Same as they did this guy: freshwest Oct 2013 #34
The last part shows just how savage and inhumane Ron Paul and other GOPers are AZ Progressive Oct 2013 #17
Higher order animals, especially sulphurdunn Oct 2013 #18
LIBERTARIANS .... MindMover Oct 2013 #19
Good toon! A Little Weird Oct 2013 #29
+1 freshwest Oct 2013 #36
"The bill was handed to Snyder's surviving mother (pictured, left), who was incapable of paying." Ed Suspicious Oct 2013 #20
Yes, it should die with the person elleng Oct 2013 #22
As far as I know, no they don't have to pay it davidpdx Oct 2013 #26
I think it's standard for hospitals (and collections agencies) Mariana Oct 2013 #31
Guess people don't know how to deal with matters after a death in the family. elleng Oct 2013 #33
You would probably be surprised at how often this scam works. Egalitarian Thug Oct 2013 #38
I'd believe it. Mariana Oct 2013 #40
When my mother died LibertyLover Oct 2013 #43
Some times, The Last Dem. Oct 2013 #32
Libertarian utopia. At least he died free from the enslavement of free/affordable health care. nt BluegrassStateBlues Oct 2013 #35
The term is, I believe, poetic justice. n/t Egalitarian Thug Oct 2013 #37
But Ron Paul is fighting for all of our freedoms here-- Jamaal510 Oct 2013 #39
Despite what republicans claim they are, taking personal B Calm Oct 2013 #41
K & R Scurrilous Oct 2013 #44
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