Sicko

By Kables

1 Jul

Spoiler alert!

Joking.

Dina and I saw the film tonight, and while I’m no articulate, erudite critic, I CAN say that this was one of the most eye-opening, gut-wrenching movies I’ve seen in a long long time, and that all of you should see it immediately.

While the movie provides a lot to chew on, my big takeaway is this: although health care is a polarizing issue in this country, it shouldn’t be. Regardless of your political affiliation, health care should be a right, not a privilege, and if you don’t believe that you’re not a Democrat or a Republican or a Green, you’re simply an asshole. (Which might mean you’re a Libertarian.)

I’ll leave it at that. Has anyone else seen? Anyone want to chime in on the state of health care in America? I know a few of us work in the field . . . any thoughts?

Filed under: Health, Movies

8 Responses for "Sicko"

bckhough July 2nd, 2007 at 1:23 pm 1
Hi KB,
Friends invited me to go see it on Saturday, but I passed. I just don’t know if I’m up to it right now — have recently spent too much time in the muck of healthcare in America. I will definitely rent it in a few months. Everyone I talk to says they cried at the movie and I am glad about that. I am tired of documentaries that are all about “snickering” in an elitist way off to the side. People not being able to get the best healthcare that is available – that is messed up. It’s messed up and it’s intolerable. Reagan. Ugh. (do his policies/actions come up in the movie?) Clinton tried to do something. Tried to make some changes. I look to our next leader – 2008 is getting closer – to really focus on this. I could go on and on, but don’t feel right doing that when I have not actually seen the movie. Maybe I’ll post on this soon, too.

B
Kables July 6th, 2007 at 11:11 am 2
Some really good discussion going on Metafilter.
Boypan July 7th, 2007 at 6:50 am 3
We went last night. I am so embarrassed to be an American. What is our problem?
TonjaD July 7th, 2007 at 10:57 am 4
The movie was both frustrating and upsetting, but sometimes these are the types of emotions we have to experience to wake up. The parts of the movie that especially moved me were the mother of the baby who died of a fever because the hospital wouldn’t treat her due to her being under another HMO network and the pain/gratitude that the volunteer 9/11 workers experienced when they were finally treated (for free)by a health care system outside of their own country.
We (Boypan, Chris L. and I)also questioned U.S. nurses/doctors ability to allow personal beliefs to affect whether or not a person is treated for their pain. I heard that KB wasn’t given pain meds when he was passing a kidney stone in the ER and I was denied pain meds after gall bladder removal surgery while I was passing a stone by a nurse after I asked for the meds by name(I’m not sure if she thought I was faking or if I was a drug addict .).
Mark July 7th, 2007 at 10:13 pm 5
I saw it this past week. I can’t add much that hasn’t already been said, except that I think that discontent over our health care system has been on a steady boil under the surface of our public discourse for some time now and I think/hope that this film will finally bring a long overdue discussion out into the open.

Also, has anyone else picked up on the “Socialized medicine will help the terrorists” meme that the wingnuts have been spreading the last few days?
Peter July 17th, 2007 at 11:48 pm 6
Sorry I just read this now, but man…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMu6wCqdeyQ

nice. Fox News for the win.

Sicko made me want to leave this country and leave it fast. Any guesses on what the odds are that the US will adopt a universal health care plan?
Kables July 18th, 2007 at 6:23 am 7
Holy crap.
Peter July 18th, 2007 at 9:06 am 8
TERRORIST DOCTORS!!! AHH! BE AFRAID!! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!