I have been stewing over this program I watched on Discovery Health and I just have to blog about it and get it off my chest. (Please, do not be offended. It is just my personal opinion) The program was on the medical profession in the prisons and gave personal accounts from nurses and doctors that work in the prisons. I found it to be interesting UNTIL they mentioned that the inmates receive better health care than most of the general public. I was furious when they started telling the dollar amounts that the tax payers are contributing for chemotherapy and other health measures that are prolonging the lives of the inmates. My friend asked me, "Would you put them to death? Would you allow them to suffer and die?" I thought about this and decided that NO, I would not allow them to suffer but if it was from the natural course of disease or illness that they died, then so be it. I would give them pain relief and make them comfortable but would NOT expect the tax payers to pay for life saving measures for them. (there is a reason they are in prison right?) An argument expressed on the program was that they are human too and deserve the same rights as any person coming in for medical care.......I do not agree with that statement for the following reason: while we are paying for inmates to receive health care, what about all the children and homeless people that live on the streets that cannot afford it? Or the people who work full time, low paying jobs that are not offered health benefits that cannot afford to take a trip to the doctors and would be bankrupt from taking a visit to the hospital? What about those individuals that are law abiding citizens that are human just like the rest of us that cannot acquire health benefits? My personal opinion as a tax payer is that I would prefer for my tax money to help those who can really benefit from health care as opposed to paying for those who are incarcerated for committing crimes. When I watch programs like this, I hope that one day I will be able to do something to make a difference in healthcare.
Wow, I feel so much better getting that off my chest. I again state that the above is my opinion only and I welcome your comments ONLY if they agree with what I say. (because that is just how I am, you agree with me or you remain silent. LOL,LOL)
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
healthcare
Posted by Shannon at 5:59 AM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
I 100% agree! It's sickening that inmates are treated better than law abiding citizens! This country is so messed up!
Wow. That's a tough one. I'm mad at the same points that got you infuriated - but I don't know if not providing health care to inmates is the answer. Where do you draw the line? And let's be honest - some criminals are worse than others. So, I just think our health care on the outside needs to get better. That's going to be expensive and take a lot of work. I'm glad you're willing to take on the challenge; I'm sure you're not alone. Let's see what the election brings....but then again, I want to close that can of worms I just opened.
Post a Comment