Americans turning to third world country for help?

2009-07-28T00:21:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I lay in bed, a fortunate citizen of the U.S.A. I know I had said in my previous post I would continue my story, but after reading this article tonight, I felt that something had to be said. What is this article you may ask? Titled Slumdog Doctors No More, I begin, well actually begin wouldn't be the right word, more like further confirm my lack of confidence in my country. For several years I have heard many people, news stations, family, friends, and even movies talk about the medical care in the U.S. As an aspiring doctor/surgeon I have been repulsed by the care people are given; or rather, not given. Medical insurance companies should be ashamed. After seeing the movie Sicko, which, I encourage all to see, I began to worry about the people around me and how we would be treated if any of us would need health care. Unfortunately at a time like this money is sparse, and the insurance companies are gradually giving people small amounts of coverage, forcing people to go elsewhere. As citizens of the U.S.A., the wealthiest country in the WORLD, the country with the most resources, with everything at an armlengths reach, there is absolutely no reason or excuse why we are not taken care of with the upmost medical care. So, why is it that Les Seaver-Davis, citizen of the United States and resident of Greensboro, North Carolina traveled to India, an impoverished, third world country, to receive proper medical care to treat his replaced knee? I know why. Because he could receive unconditional care. After swinging back and forth in and out of the hospital not once, not twice, but 8 times and STILL lacking pristine care, Indian health care was a better option. I don't know about you, but I think that is a disgrace. After reading a quotation stated by Seaver-Davis :“For the first time in my life, I feel like I’m cared for by the best people in the world.” I felt anger. Anger isn't an emotion I generally feel but this was an exception. Not ONE individual here in the United States should have to go elsewhere for help. As healthcare progressively worsens and Insurance companies make it harder for people to have urgent surgeries without breaking the bank, interest in medical care in third world countries such as India will boom. People may say well hey, that's good for business over there, but, why give the U.S.A.'s medical system any further excuse to treat it's citizens like worthless scum. I say to all the people working along side the medical system, to put themselves in the shoes of the dying people unable to receive proper medical assistance and work together as a team and start taking CARE. Let's learn from other countries, they obviously care about their people.

- Lili Arakaki

P.S. If anyone wants the actual link to the article, here it is :
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/india/090724/medical-outsourcing-india

A first Look.

2009-07-26T14:52:00.000-07:00

So, this is my very first post. Actually, this is my very first blog...my Internal Thoughts. I am Lili, I am currently 16 years of age, and will be a senior in High school this coming fall. If anyone of you reading this right now actually knew me on a personal level, I assume your reaction would be, Lili? A blog? No way. Well, this week has changed me. A week can do alot to a person. If you are with the right people in the right place, at the right time, magic can happen. It really can. This past week I traveled to UCLA, well not much of a travel, more like a 15 minute drive. Anyways, I participated in a week long intensive medical program, Med USA 2009. Since I was in 6th grade I knew I wanted to go into the medical field. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do specifically in the medical world but I knew it was my calling. After a few years of spending hours upon hours watching the Discovery Health Channel's plethora of medically informative, sometimes even gruesome shows, I began finding myself wrapped up in the organ we all know of as, the heart. Surgery also jumped out at me like a 3D movie. Well, since I was fascinated with surgery and the heart, I put those two together and came up with Cardiac surgeon. Well okay, I didn't come up with it, although I must say if I came up with that specific field, I probably would be a pretty big deal by now. haha. Over the years I have stuck with Cardiac surgery as the only job for me. (hey, that rhymes). Earlier this year, I received an email that would unknowingly change my life. I had been invited to apply to Med USA 2009. Okay now for me to explain what it is! Well, it is a 7 day long medical program that would imerse a group of students interested in the medical field in lectures, clinical sessions, debates, and much more for one week. I was ecstatic that I was thought of to apply to what seemed and which ultimately proved to be an amazing experience. I immediately applied. After about a month of waiting to hear back, I received another email saying I had been accepted, to either the Johns Hopkins or UCLA Med USA conference with the bonus of a $900 scholarship. Not only was I incredibly excited but you should have seen my family. Luckily I have an incredible family that supports my interest in the medical field. Anyway, like I said, I went to the UCLA program. I was going to spill everything right now but I think I will leave you hanging and write all about it in another post. Hope I didn't make you fall asleep at the keyboard.

- Lili Arakaki