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Woman ignored after dying on floor of psychiatric ward
After an hour, another mental patient finally got the attention of the indifferent hospital workers. (New York Daily News | NBC video)
July 1, 2008 | Permalink
Comments
only in New York.
Posted by: Jim | Jul 1, 2008 7:24:17 AM
Wow... this is truly sad, but not surprising at all. Prisoners get far better treatment and living conditions than mental patients. Anyone remember hearing about the completely SANE people (I think maybe they were reporters or journalists) checking into the psychiatric hospitals and then blowing the lid off on all the doctors and nurses.
Posted by: AJ | Jul 1, 2008 7:28:36 AM
Welcome to socialized medicine.
Posted by: SwarthyTroll | Jul 1, 2008 7:28:43 AM
What is that saying again???? You can tell about a nation by the way it treats its poor, sick and elderly.
This is beyond pathetic. On one of those news talk shows a couple weeks ago I saw a surv. video of an elderly man who was struck by 2 different cars trying to cross the road...even though the sidewalks were full of people...it took a few minutes before anyone went to his aid. People just stood around and looked. Both drivers immediately left the scene, never even stopping their cars to check on the man. One woman who was on the sidewalk stepped out a few feet, looked at him and walked away. Its pathetic. I just don't understand what is happening...how people lack that much empathy and concern for their fellow man....
Posted by: Cherie | Jul 1, 2008 7:29:49 AM
Swarthy, you truly are a DB. Socialized Medicine or "Universal Healthcare" would actually improve these types of situations. Get educated....please!
Posted by: cherie | Jul 1, 2008 7:30:47 AM
I doubt it cherie. Have you ever seen a Veterans hospital? It's pathetic. The (Ours at least)government is a complete waste when it comes to accomplishing anything except collecting taxes. It's a nice sentiment, I grant you, but as long as the system is run by people whose sole purpose is to be re-elected, there is no chance that any real benefit will come to those in need.
Posted by: Dirigo | Jul 1, 2008 7:41:31 AM
This is unbelievable. I smell a HUGE lawsuit coming from this woman's family in Jamacia.
And I have to agree with Dirigo and Swarthy (gulp) on this one. I, for one, don't want the government making decisions about my healthcare.
Posted by: lawdog | Jul 1, 2008 7:48:17 AM
MUST HAVE BEEN BREAK TIME.
Posted by: | Jul 1, 2008 8:08:32 AM
AJ - I don't think prisons are really any better. They had a guy who used to go on the Howard Stern show who ended up in jail and he died from pneumonia. They didn't treat him properly despite his worsening condition.
As for socialized medicine/universal healthcare, I don't think this particular situation would have made a difference in any case. In the first place these were just security guards who ignored her so what does that have to do with 'socialized medicine'? Second we don't have universal healthcare now and most hospitals are overburdened with patients. Universal healthcare would actually help remedy this because poor people would be able to go to a GP instead of running to the hospital every time they get sick.
And actually the Veterans hospitals are known to have greatly improved in the quality of care they get these days.
Posted by: G-Man | Jul 1, 2008 8:09:40 AM
Ugh, I had to post a comment. Socialized medicine does not prohibit you from paying directly, or through private insurance, for premium health care. It does not mean you will start having to wait in long lines to get your treatment. It only ensures that every person has health care no matter what.
There are many of other nations where health care works this way. Cherie is right, please get educated.
Posted by: Tom | Jul 1, 2008 8:14:04 AM
Veterans hospital sucks because the American people jerk-off to soldiers but don't want to pay the real cost.
Or rather, the money guys love to profit from war and don't want to pay the piper.
Hell, the biggest slice of the budget is not military operations, it's health care for veterans...can you believe that?
I love the idea of socialized medicine. I'm willing to give a little to help my fellow man. I can always buy extra coverage.
Just think, then your boss won't be paying 80% of your health insurance coverage for you and he might be able to hire more people.
Posted by: Sean, Torrington CT | Jul 1, 2008 8:35:14 AM
Socialized medicine means there is no accountability and it leads to situations like this.
I bet that security guard will be protected by his union too.
Her family might get paid, but that money will be coming from us taxpayers, who also funded this worthless "hospital" in the first place.
Posted by: SwarthyTroll | Jul 1, 2008 8:41:50 AM
man, when I thought my leg was broken a couple years ago I went to the free clinic- they were really nice- and the nurse said "it's probably not" broken (I had pretty good evidence for a cracked thigh bone) and I might want to wait and see before I went in fr a $500 x-ray. That and I should stay off it, which at the time I worked 3 part time jobs and was in my 2nd to last semester of college. Anyway, long story short, it was a bone bruise. That and several other examples where I required (not wanted, but actually needed prof. medical attention) But nobody paid a dime for my health care when I wasn't covered, not the state, not my neighbor, not my dog, noone. I went to college- still in hock for that- so that I could get a job with benefits. Success! It pays pretty bad, but GREAT medical. Now I would resent the hell out of picking up some other schmoe's tab. I don't want my taxes to go up a single penny to pay for someone else although I would support stuff like, I don't know, decreasing the Pentagram's yearly trillion dollar budget to pay for an increase in Health Care spending for the un or underinsured.
Posted by: sometimesilie | Jul 1, 2008 8:44:28 AM
"Only in New York"????
what a completely ignorant post. Just because you don't hear about stuff like this happening in East Bumf*ck doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Please, don't be a media whore.....you are fed what they want to feed you...when you believe only in what the media chooses for you to see you are nothing more than an elderly patient in the media's "care".
Posted by: jj | Jul 1, 2008 8:48:03 AM
Socialized medicine is not all that its thought to be. Canada has it, and many Canadians come to the U.S. and pay out of pocket, because of the poor medical conditions. It takes forever to get an appointment - and when you do it is so overcrowded, that you really dont get the attention you need. I hope the U.S. never goes that route. Pretty sad - EH?
Posted by: JIM | Jul 1, 2008 8:57:16 AM
i agree
Posted by: AngrySockMonkey | Jul 1, 2008 9:00:47 AM
c+ on your trolling efforts sean.
Posted by: AngrySockMonkey | Jul 1, 2008 9:03:23 AM
I agree with JIM, socialized medicine is not a silver bullet for our problems. Having it for everyone is nice and those that can afford more, well it's great for them but creates an elitist system no better than what we have now. All of the really good doctors flock to serve those that can pay a little more and those with a medical degree from some third world country treats the rest. If everyone can't get in the same line it will never be a good system.
Posted by: R | Jul 1, 2008 9:16:27 AM
Years ago I worked for a man whose only son was paranoid schizophrenic. At one point, he was checked into what is considered a fairly upscale facility for mental patients and placed on a suicide watch. A staff member was supposed to check on him every 15 minutes. He wandered out of his room during the night and hanged himself with the cord on a pay phone. Somehow despite those 15-minute checks, he wasn't discovered until hours later.
Posted by: Oriole | Jul 1, 2008 9:23:34 AM
What a terrible way to treat somebody! I don't understand how a security guard, or average joe for that matter, would just ignore this person for such a long time.
Also, I agree with Dirigo on the VA hospitals not taking care of their patients. Truly sick men and women wait months for an appointment with a nurse, then a few more months to see someone who can actually request tests and prescribe something. Its a travesty!
Posted by: Reno | Jul 1, 2008 9:29:14 AM
It's arguable whether an elitist system would be no better than what we have now.
Posted by: Lou Sussler | Jul 1, 2008 9:34:00 AM
"Now I would resent the hell out of picking up some other schmoe's tab."
I completely agree.
Posted by: Nicole | Jul 1, 2008 9:36:14 AM
Fourth biggest lie in the world: "We're from the government and we're gonna help you."
Posted by: Jack | Jul 1, 2008 9:40:19 AM
Socialized medicine? Look at England and Canada. For the people if you are:
1) Very poor - Good, you get free health care and don't have to pay.
2) Middle class - Bad, you pay once for socialized medicine (through tax or deductions) and you pay again to see a private doctor because you can't stand the poor service or the long wait.
3) Rich - Don't care, you have your private doctors no matter what.
Guess what, we already have it. In most states, if you are very poor you can get "medical coupons" and don't need to pay. In my state, WA, you can get free health care through DSHS.
In summary, socialized medicine is no panacea, and only used by politicians as a slogan to get themselves elected. They're rich and will see a private doctor either way. The middle class once again will get kicked in the nuts for their trouble.
Posted by: Farmer Bob and the City | Jul 1, 2008 9:41:32 AM
Jack:
I know the first biggest lie is "Hi, I'm an astronaut." What are two and three?
Posted by: Displaced | Jul 1, 2008 9:58:13 AM
