A Traveler’s Take on Michael Moore’s ‘Sicko’

My first experience with socialized medicine was in Australia in 2000. I had spent two weeks in Bali and gotten terrible food poisoning. I lost about 15 pounds in a week, and had never felt worse in my life. Still, when I arrived in Australia, I refused to go the doctor - fearful, in my American way, of how much it could cost.

After a day or two watching me waste away to nothing, followed by a most embarrassing moment at a movie theater, a friend forced me into the ER. I literally collapsed at the reception desk, crying for help. They hooked me up to fluids, and as my body rehydrated from days of purging everything, I could feel the life in me come back. They prescribed some medicine, and four hours later I was on way. I sulked up to the desk and asked how much I owed and they said ‘Nothing.’ I had never been so shocked or grateful in my life.

Recently, in France, wise to the benefits of taking advantage of inexpensive healthcare when abroad, I went to the doctor with a persistent sore throat. His first recourse was to prescribe a natural medication. I was reluctant, wanting something hard core, but he said to come back for something stronger if the eucalyptus spray didn’t work. I couldn’t help but chuckle when he asked me if I wanted a receipt so I could have my insurance company in the US reimburse me for the 19 euros I had to pay to see him. I told him that was cheaper than my co-pay would have been back home.

Terry, thanks for your lovely food poisoning/purging story. I pictured you looking like one of Moore’s waiting room mates in the movie poster.

Indeed I still stare longingly at the jeans I could fit in back then, TambourineMan.

Better one is America: Freedom to Fascism.
Watch it, learn it pass it on.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173

As a Canadian who lives in France and has traveled in both Cuba and the US, I don’t think Michael Moore is that far from the truth - although he’s swallowed the propaganda a little too easily.

Socialized medicine is more equitable and often excellent (it wasn’t long ago that WHO said France had the world’s best health care), but it is often bureaucratic, slow and open to abuse. Still, I’d rather have that than be turned away from health care in the US because I don’t have the right paperwork or because I’m poor.

In Cuba the poverty caused by the then-Soviet pullout and the US goods embargo means the country has to delve within itself to provide health care. And it does, with amazing success. In the absence of morphine, dentists are trained in acupuncture. And special homes are set aside for pregnant women to provide home-based and midwife assistance - which is all most pregnancies need (emergency obstetric care is available if needed).

So Moore may have stars in his eyes - but at least they’re open.

Our health care system,the tip of the iceburg. Mr. Micheal Moore may have expanded some information but did help expose that here in these United States we have some real problems.I have worked in the health care system forsome thrity years and have wittnessed many wastes,misuse and ill managed delivery systems. We seem to reward thoses who do not work but in many cases can work and punish those who do work. Our health care in the next few years as many nurses retire and are forced to leave due to work conditions will completly imploded.We talk of the health care isuess only when its time to elect new so-called caring officals. We seem to take care of the rest of the worlds economic and rebuilding problems if they play ball with our goverment. Post Katrina care from our goverment is but another example of where this goverment places its lack of responceabilty to its people. Again Health Care is but the tip of the iceburg of our democratic problems in this country.

Great post and very interesting comments. I agree with most positions.

Interesting and useful information. Great article i will bookmark it for future reference

I’ve seen this documentary last year.
In short, it is quite enlightening yet hilarious, just like the usual Moore’s style.

The French medical care system is one of the best in the world so before criticising people should first try to reach their level and maybe then dare to speak.