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Judy Thorburn's Movie Reviews

Sicko

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Judy Thorburn

Sicko

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"SICKO" - MOORE EXAMINES ILLS OF HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY

Flick Chicks Chick-O-Meter The Flick Chicks, film, video, movie reviews, critics, Judy Thorburn, Victoria Alexander, Polly Peluso, Shannon Onstot, Jacqueline Monahan, Tasha ChemplavilFlick Chicks Chick-O-Meter The Flick Chicks, film, video, movie reviews, critics, Judy Thorburn, Victoria Alexander, Polly Peluso, Shannon Onstot, Jacqueline Monahan, Tasha ChemplavilFlick Chicks Chick-O-Meter The Flick Chicks, film, video, movie reviews, critics, Judy Thorburn, Victoria Alexander, Polly Peluso, Shannon Onstot, Jacqueline Monahan, Tasha ChemplavilFlick Chicks Chick-O-Meter The Flick Chicks, film, video, movie reviews, critics, Judy Thorburn, Victoria Alexander, Polly Peluso, Shannon Onstot, Jacqueline Monahan, Tasha ChemplavilFlick Chicks Chick-O-Meter The Flick Chicks, film, video, movie reviews, critics, Judy Thorburn, Victoria Alexander, Polly Peluso, Shannon Onstot, Jacqueline Monahan, Tasha Chemplavil

Leave it to controversial documentary filmmaker Michael Moore to dig deep and expose the truth about what’s wrong with America. Moore doesn’t accept the love it or leave it attitude. Don’t call him a traitor, or anti-American. On the contrary, as a concerned citizen, Moore addresses important issues with an in your face approach so hopefully something will be done to make a change for the better.

Moore’s target this time out is America’s health care system, a subject that should hit a nerve for the majority of Americans regardless of race or political sidings. Plain and simple, there is no denying that the state of health care in America sucks. The fact is over 50 million Americans do not have any medical insurance whatsoever. Yet, this documentary is not about them. It’s about the 250 million who do have insurance but receive poor care. For those covered by a “managed care” organization, aka an HMO, many find themselves being denied the proper care when they need it most, because of financial gain motivations at the expense of human lives. Medicine is a money making business and profit incentive is all that matters to them.

What has happened to the Hippocratic Oath doctors take promising to do no harm? Sadly, it appears many docs are in cahoots with insurance and drug companies and receive bonuses for denying claims for proper medical attention or procedures for their patients. Dr. Linda Peno felt so guilty about conspiring with a managed care provider to deny care in order to raise the company’s profit margin that she came forward to testify in front of Congress about this ruthless and immoral practice, not that her stance seems to have made a difference.

Moore goes about exposing the ugly truth in his usual manner by interviewing people who have been personally victimized by the corrupt system. These are just regular people who have undergone horrendous experiences while in need of urgent medical care for themselves or their loved ones. Having paid their monthly premiums you would think that coverage would not be a problem. But, no. The greedy health “care” organizations look for ways to deny those insured so they wouldn’t have to shell out a dime. Many people cannot even afford the cost of high co-pays and wind up in debt or lose everything they have worked hard for because of skyrocketing medical bills. Others have died after being denied the care they rightfully paid for and deserved.

Moore documents a few horror stories. Take for example, Donna Smith a newspaper editor and her husband, a machinist. Because of Donna’s cancer and her husband’s numerous heart attacks, the high cost of medical bills forced the couple to sell their home and move in with their daughter. Long into his retirement years, a 79 year old New York man had to take a job as a janitor in a supermarket because Medicare doesn’t pay for his medication. How could you not be angry and sympathize with the mother whose infant daughter died because she was denied medical care at a hospital that was not on her plan. By the time she was able to get her critically ill child to the “right” hospital it was too late to save her life. Or how about the guy that had to choose which of one of two severed fingers he could afford to reattach. The outrageous cost was $16,000 for one or $60,000 for the other. I have had my personal experiences with HMO’s so I know for a fact how fighting the insurance company to pay for a procedure they refuse to cover for some ridiculous reason or other is a losing battle in this country.

Moore isn’t shy about pointing fingers as who is to blame for perpetuating the shameful state of affairs. He’s done his homework and came up with several politicians who have been the recipient of dirty money from the health care industry in order to prevent reform.

Not afraid to take a stand, Moore headed to the shores of Guantanamo Bay with a boat full of sick Americans including 9/11 volunteers and rescue heroes who have, unfathomably, been denied treatment in America, to try and get them the same free medical care that Al Quida terrorist prisoners are receiving. Of course, Moore’s pleas to the prison guards were ignored, but he managed to take those with him to a Cuban hospital where without a question, they had no problem receiving excellent care by doctors including drugs that were denied or too expensive for them to afford back in the states.

Everyone has been told that although Canada, England and France have a universal health care that is free and granted to all, there is a down side - exceptionally long waits in a doctor’s office or clinic (like we don’t have that here), months before a patient can get a needed surgical procedure, and other substandard care.

Moore traveled to Canada and England to find out the truth behind the propaganda Americans have been fed. What he discovered from interviews with several citizens in those countries was a revelation. In visiting clinics and numerous hospitals Moore witnessed patients being treated quickly and free of any charges whatsoever. The concept of pre-authorization or pre-approval is unheard of. Weeks of medical leave for recuperation after surgery is never questioned nor are requests for prescription drugs or preventative medicine.

No wonder the average citizen in these countries with a better quality of life, have a three year longer life span than Americans. If all this seems to be too good to be true, we have to question how all this is paid for. Money must come from somewhere. Moore fails to address this issue. However, taxation is the answer. But, based on all the people that were interviewed no one was hurting and were able to afford all the necessary requirements to live a good life. Whatever taxes are incurred on the population seems to be fair. Not a worry or complaint was mentioned when it comes to what Europeans get in exchange.

In the past, Moore has taken on corporate America, gun control, and blasted Republicans and President Bush, causing a clash between opposing sides to each subject he’s attacked. It’s true that he hasn’t always been fair in his one sided approach. But, who can deny that it is a disgrace that America, the richest country in the world, cannot take care of its own the way other “free” western nations do. There is no reason why Americans can’t be granted universal health care. We’ve had to swallow enough lies. Fears about “socialized” medicine are unwarranted when we already have a socialized postal, police, and fire system that works just fine.

Even if Moore is loose with all the facts, he is right in his indictment of America’s healthcare industry. It’s sickening, and a cure is desperately needed. There is no arguing about that!

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