What's going on here?

cognitivedissonance:

A 24-year-old Cincinnati father died from a tooth infection this week because he couldn’t afford his medication, offering a sobering reminder of the importance of oral health and the number of people without access to dental or health care.

According to NBC affiliate WLWT, Kyle Willis’ wisdom tooth started hurting two weeks ago. When dentists told him it needed to be pulled, he decided to forgo the procedure, because he was unemployed and had no health insurance.

When his face started swelling and his head began to ache, Willis went to the emergency room, where he received prescriptions for antibiotics and pain medications. Willis couldn’t afford both, so he chose the pain medications.

The tooth infection spread, causing his brain to swell. He died Tuesday.

Before anyone criticizes this man for choosing pain medication over antibiotics (as I’ve seen some people do), let’s think about two things:

• If you were in severe pain, and probably not thinking clearly, what would you do? 
• Why should we live in a society where this is a choice someone must make?

How is this just? Health care is not a luxury, nor should dental care be a luxury. People do not deserve to die because they cannot afford an antibiotic prescription.

Allright…I’m going to put in my two cents as an RN in the medical field.  Yes, the insurance business is corrupt and we need to find a way to cover all Americans.  But why didn’t the pharmacist counsel this patient and let him know that this was a bad decision?  That’s a big mistake on the pharmacist’s part.  

Also, generic antibiotics are very cheap.  Many are around $5.00….A point to ponder.

Quite a few 24 year olds who can afford health insurance choose not to purchase it..The “invincible” state of mind.  I have a few friends that choose not to. I tell them it’s a terrible idea.  Those who cannot afford it are usually eligible for medicaid.  Did anyone look into his income status?

Why didn’t he go back to the ER if he felt it was getting worse?  The ER can’t deny you because you don’t have insurance.  If it was getting worse, they could hook you up to IV antibiotics really quick.  I work at a hospital.  This happens.

UGH. Pulling my hair out at ignorance.

(via loveyourchaos)