'SiCKO' in Sacto - Mike and Nurses Rally for Care

[trainjustleft]

"Girli"

Damn! You sure have a lot of time on your hands for being a nurse-practitioner, four certications, etc., and all that jazz.

But good luck and I'm glad that you're using all of that education to successfully bill Medicare. Where's your free clinic?

[trainjustleft]

Hey there "girli." Regarding "another Medicaid Winner," who do you think these "Medicaid" people are anyway that disallow your medication prescriptions as "vitamins?" They're NURSES reading a list of acceptable drugs, sitting at a computer and making YOUR decisions FOR YOU without seeing your patient at all. NURSES. STUPID NURSES. Sheep-like, whateveryousaywedo NURSES.

[aqeli]

Moore got it wrong. Government intrusion in the end distorts the market and increases prices. The solution is for the government to quit the health care. A lot of people would not be asking for knee MRI's whenever they get a little bit of pain if they paid the bill. Likewise, they would ask for the cheapest generic pill instead of the "purple pill" that they saw on the TV ad. Also Americans should stop paying for treating sometimes incurable disease, and should pay more for prevention.

[dane3026]

Ageli, have you read Dr. David Gratzer's book "The Cure: How Capitalism Can Save American Health Care"? I read his book and thought it was insightful. It flies in the face of the "greedy, for-profit" rant (including the text to the video featured here) against the health insurance industry.

[jonedelleman]

Michael, I am a teacher. I go back to school every day.

: P

[jonedelleman]

Michael, don't tell me what I don't understand and what I do understand. I have lived for 25 years under European health care and 30 years under American health care. I DO know the difference. Things need to be improved on both sides. to make a movie and sen dit abroad instead of addressing the issue here does not contribute anything to the solution. It simply feeds a sick ego.

[jonedelleman]

How easy to pidgeonhole someone and then, on false grounds, dismiss their comment. It is also intellectually feeble. I know people of nobility who have sacrificed a lot for others. Michael Moore does not act out of noble reasons. Otherwise, he would not stage parts of his so-called documentary. If he really wants change in the US, why does he show this movie abroad and taints it so that the US is smeared ?

That, in my book, is faaaaar removed from being noble.

[Girli951]

MichaelPDA, You can't imagine what a bitter pill it is for us to swallow when the insurance companies tell us what is and is not neccessary treatment for our patients. And may God help you if you have to deal with Medicaid. Young mothers trying to work, spending everything they make on child care, kids get sick and medicaid doesn't want to treat or wants you to use old outdated drugs that are less effective and cheaper.

[Girli951]

Another Medicaid winner: Wouldn't pay for my pregnant patient's Chromagen for severe anemia, they said it was a "vitamin". Would not pay the $20 a month for the damn iron supplement but would pay the costs for hospitalization and a NICU down the road because of it. Your tax dollars at work. I begged a month's worth off the drug rep then just bought the rest myself. What is the purpose of us going to upteen years of school to be dictated to by some insurance clerk?

[Girli951]

People wonder why there is so much of the US designated as a

MUA, that's why. You know what is wrong, you know how to fix it, what they need is readily available but they can't afford it and insurance won't pay for it. Sometimes it becomes unbearable, many days you go home thinking "I can't do this anymore" but you know if you leave, that will be one less person to try and help them---so you stay--and you suffer, right beside them.

[uniearth]

Vote for President Michael Moore!!!

[nohealthcare62]

I am 44 female I will die because I have colon cancer and I can not afford BSBC or anything and I dont qualify for state and no Doctor will see me .KUCINICH Please America Please Jesus said You Did it To ME (HIM)

[aaronhess69]

health insurance companies save lives

[scorpionkings]

I'm guessing you work for a health insurance company..Or your just blind too the facts...Anything that's set up too make a profit does not have your BEST interest in mind..

[vdreyer]

this is human act of justice. try more...Moore

[Shellianne]

To "trainjustleft": When MEN take over the health care system??!!?? Men HAVE been running health care! Male politicians, Male businesses, Male managers, & Male-run corporations?!! YOU try ONE 12 hour nursing shift with no support staff, no docs, no supplies, & no breaks & see how you do, you twerp! Nurses are the ONLY ones who are TRYING to help patients - & they are victims of the "HC INDUSTRY" too!

[aqeli]

Nurses victims?!! Their salaries are going up every year while the real back breaking "nursing" type of work is done by "patient care techs" - people with little schooling.

My friend's nurse wife used to work 3 12-hour shifts making 70K. Is that a bad deal?

[Girli951]

You are a f***ing idiot and you have NO IDEA what nurses really do or make. The next time you or a family member are in the hospital or need surgery, you make sure and let them know you want a patient care tech and no nurse. I pray to God the next time you are ill you get exactly the kind of nursing care you so richly deserve.

[aqeli]

You sound outraged - why don't you tell us how much you work and what they pay you... Maybe I can find you a better job. Nurses make good money, their salaries are still going up, and their work isn't too hard. The only thing nurses do is dispense meds, transfusions, and fill those silly reports that nobody reads. Cleaning, lifting, vitals, etc., are done by patient care techs.

[boucaques07]

ageli..... you are obviously a moron. Try this... try ACTUALLY saving someone's life... then the prick sues you because you busted a rib doing CPR on him to bring his sorry alcoholic wife beating ass back to life.... NOW tell me that Nursing is easy.

[boucaques07]

Ohhh P.S.

The prick never did pay his bill.

[Girli951]

The above comment stands-you are an idiot. I am always outraged when an idiot comments on something they know nothing about. By the way, you forgot to mention the part about nurses getting shot at, slapped, punched, beat up, and stabbed. How much would you have to be paid to be sliced with a straight razor? Think it doesn't happen? Go work in an ER jackass. One day, you will have need of a nurse and when you do, I hope you get the care you so richly deserve.

[aqeli]

You guys girli951 and that other one - have an overdeveloped sense of your own worth. If - as you put it - you give so much more than you take, go find another job. I work in an ER. You never know, I could be your boss. Watch your language, you have a filthy mouth. Cheers.

[Girli951]

Ageli, I'm going to address a few issues with your inane comment. 1)You strike me as uneducated trailer trash that spends their life feeling resentful and attacking those that have done something with their life when you have not 2) If you do work in an ER it is in a menial position, which explains your jealousy and hatred.

[Girli951]

3) You could not be my boss for two reasons, a) you are too stupid b) I no longer work in a hospital setting- as a nurse practitioner I have my own practice, now you can hate me even more for having an advanced degree and 4 national certifications. Eats you up doesn't it? Get help dimwit oh wait a minute I forgot to have a foul mouth, change that to dumb-fuck.

[aqeli]

To Girli951: I can't believe how foul-mouthed you are. You dare call me trailer trash?!! I am an MD, a surgeon, a lot smarter and far better educated than your sorry manic-off-medications nurse self. I'm sorry for ever having run into you on this website.

[jonedelleman]

Girli951, please don't resort to insults. A nurse shoudl give her best to any patient, not based on liking him/her, richt ? You have written some really thought-provoking things and I am reading them intently. Do not lket yourself be drawn into these immature exchanges. You are a valuable voice of experience and intelligence. thank you.

[Girli951]

You're very welcome and I only result to insults when the insultee is too ignorant to understand intellectual discourse and is completely deserving. You can speak French to someone all day long-if they don't understand it-you have achieved nothing. See my point? On a side note, venting has gotten a bad reputation which is really a shame. If more people would vent, I would not have so many patients.

[Girli951]

AND...I always give my best to every patient regardless of my personal feelings. If my personal feelings are strong enough to impact my ability to work with them, I discharge them to another Nurse Pracitioner or physician. The dimwit I was speaking to however, is NOT my patient and as such will receive the response I think is warranted.

[Girli951]

....as well as deserved.

[trainjustleft]

See above. My statement was "when men take over nursing," not the health care system, but you've got a valid point. When men are the charge nurses, the house supervisors, etc., patient outcomes will improve. We NEED more men in nursing.

[trainjustleft]

Too many times a female nurse will show up pregnant and "can't lift, can't take care of MRSA, can't do respiratory patients," etc., because of the unborn baby. And the patients suffer for lack of care because SOMEONE is taking up the slack. Another nurse who already has their own share of patients.

[trainjustleft]

I've been doing 12 hours shifts for 15 years, and in Las Vegas, one of the worst-staffed states for nurses, if not THE worst.

Men don't put up with no support staff, no supplies. We complain. We're stronger, usually the significan breadwinner, get more respect, and accomplish more.

[trainjustleft]

Women have child care issues. They just aren't that dedicated to a job. Nothing wrong with that, but it's hurting the entire system.

Ok people. Have fun with these comments. I became an attorney to fight the system and my hospital has lots of help (well, my ICU anyway,) because I had lots of complaints, lots of power, and I know how to address the issues. And our salaries are going UP because the nurses are dependable and our workload is going down.

[Girli951]

Another comment from another idiot. You are the kind of nurse I teach my students not to be.

[bluenote71]

Everyone: I just wrote a letter to my congressman, urging him to improve our health system, and I haven't lived in the US for 4 years (though still a US citizen). If I can do something, so can you. If you walk out of Sicko hoping that you'll get better health care, but then do nothing, then you will have wasted the momentum created by this film. We must act now if we want change!

[trainjustleft]

You will WAIT for a heart surgery on a waiting list in England you guys. You will NOT qualify for dialysis after you are 65 years old. There are lots of gives and takes to the Socialized medical systems.

Stupid nurses on the band wagon of publicity. How disgusting. And they "walk off their jobs" when they're overworked and underpayed. Why not just quit and do something else, huh?

Again, when men take over nursing, you'll see changes made for the better.

[SallyH499]

What are you talking about!? You WAIT HERE! And where do you get this information abot dialysis? Is this another rumor started by the private insurance industry? Too many people in this country can't get ANY care when they need it and when they get really sick the insurance companies work overtime to deny payment putting thousands into serious debt. Are you aware that most bankruptcies are the cause of medical bills?

[trainjustleft]

My brother in laws father lives in Kent, U.K., turned 65, and was disqualified for dialysis. He got the renal frost, elevated bun/ct, lethargy, loss of appetite, and died a peaceful "renal" death. Socialized medicine Sally.

[SallyH499]

And one more question for trainjust left. What do you do for a living? What makes you more qualified than a nurse to understand the problems with our healtcare system? Give me a break. I am sick to death of stupid people who talk out of the butts. You haven't done your research.

[trainjustleft]

What makes me more qualitied? I'm a Critical Care Nurse and an attorney. And I was sick of working with whining women who take on another patient without having the guts to face managment. When 90% of nurses are MALE, you'll see changes in your employment situation.

[Girli951]

men have been running everything so far in this country and they have done such a fantastic job!! You might want to temper your hatred toward women if you want to be taken seriously. Why the disdain for women? Couldn't get one to date you? They made fun of you? Again, one day you will need a nurse and when you do, I hope you get the care you so richly deserve.

[Girli951]

You are an idiot, I can't wait for you to get sick and have one of those "stupid nurses" to take care of you. When you do, think back to your comment-hopefully you will get a Nurse Ratched

[aqeli]

You are the kind of compassionate nurse who wishes people get sick so that her silly ego will get satisfied.

[Girli951]

This comment is too stupid to even rebut--Dumb-Fuck.

[evolveordissolve]

YES. FINALLY!

[KasparHauser4]

man of the people!

[Karisma7788]

Why is there even a health care "INDUSTRY"? This is ridiculous, a doctor should be a Dr b/c he/she wants to heal ppl and that is why it used to be considered an admirable profession AND why did we allow these COMPANIES (who buy gov officials off) to take over our HEALTH and lives? This is soooo backwards.

[Thimmet]

I am actually watching Michael's new document/movie, Sicko right now... and I have cried during this movie, and no, im not gay or anything negative that an "normal" guy would think.

American health care is so deeply down down..

I live in Finland, but I have lived in the US, where I had an great health insurance by my dads employer (Nokia), but to see how 50million americans dont have that possibility of caring makes me sick..

[Budvb]

I say we make a huge Debt for the Nation so when the bill collectors come to Collect with there armies. And when they leave, cause we have nothing left worth anything to them for our huge debt we owe them. We can fix the Whole darn system. Party on till our Private Banking System goes Bankrupt!!!! Then we can get off our subsidized lazy asses and Fix it all right again. God we might have to actually work again.

[DonFamoso]

It's Time For Them To Go! (The People)

[philipmontag]

Download 'SICKO', I got a great copy on torrentspydotcom

[allthingslucid]

Right on, Michael! Single payer health care is the way to go!!!!! End the tyranny of private health insurance...NOW!!!!!!!!!!!

[funkysmelly]

Thank god for Michael Moore. Health care is a basic issue of morality. If you are poor in America the system says you are expendible and that is wrong on every level, in any religion, un-ethical, immoral and evil. The nurses know this because they deal with it every day. So do I. Being sick without health coverage is like torture. Physical and mental torture.

[jonedelleman]

funkysmelly, I don't know where you live. Move to another state that has better health care. If you have AIDs, Washingto, D.C. and its FREE CLINICS is the best. Seriously. University Clinics will also treat you for free f you are destitute and they have the latest. If all else fails, go to NIH and participate in one of their studies. They pay you for it, most often it involves just giving blood, and you get the best health care. What more do you want ? The hospital to come to your house ?

[billbacon]

I think you've participated in one too many of those studies. The US health care system has been sold out to big insurance and big pharmaceutical companies. I'm not advocating socialized medicine, but the practices condoned by these companies, the profits they rake in, and the lawmakers who accept money to allow this to continue, all have to be stopped. No other country has higher premiums than the US. No other system declines to treat as many "insured" patients. Nobody pays more for drugs.

[attractanything]

Regardless of what anyone thinks of Michael Moore, the POINT he is making is valid and of critical concern: National Healthcare is badly needed in the US, and it's on the way--a great/just idea cannot be stopped. The issue is NOT about Moore or any other activist, so any critique of them personally is irrelevant. It's about our kids, family, neighbors and fellow Americans.

[xxdrzombiexx]

The media, far from being liberal like you are taught to believe, is unbearably right-stained. All that news footage in F911 was real but suppressed. Moore made a film and sold it to us.

With SiCKO it's sort of the same thing. The same big corps and their GOP counterparts profit from illness and treatment.

NONE of this is new. It's just that Moore is able to smash through the media blackouts on various information by making a film.

And the MSM reaction is proof of this.

[jonedelleman]

zombie, Michael Moore would not have made this movie if he had known that he would get no more than 500.00 out of it - do you think he woulld have made it ? N.O.

Everybody works for money, and that includes doctors. Do you know how much a doctor needs to pay in tuition before he can open a practice ? And he is supposed to say :"That's alright, I would rather be poor anyway ?"

[xxdrzombiexx]

Of course, Moore made the movie to make money. He's an example of "Capitalism trying to save us from Capitalism".

Having worked around hospitals and psychiatrists for over 20 years, I know a little about their loans and need for cash. Docs hate managed care as much as me or Moore.

And denigrating Universal health care just shows a person to be a talk radio parrot.

[cheegum]

Maybe you should watch Roger and Me (1988). Michael Moore got into the documentary business when GM screwed his hometown of Flint, Michigan (now a mostly ghost town) because they wanted to make money by moving their Flint plant to Mexico. That spurred him on the social documentary scene, and hes still been doing it on and on. Every movie he makes is bigger and badder than the previous once.. maybe hes making the money made to finance his next documentary made specifically to educate people?

[jonedelleman]

Educating people is not the same as spreading a bias. I want real numbers, real stories from people in Europe, the Universal Health Care Wonderland. It is a class system that allows cheaper drugs for blue collar workers and more expensive drugs for upper brackets. The difference in survival is on average six years ! Is that better ?

[jonedelleman]

zombie, you know, that comment about being a t"talk radio show parrot" is far-fetched. I do not listen to talk radio. I am comparing the realities of Universal Health care in Germany with what people on this board think it is. You should welcome a comment based on those realities because they are true.

[funkysmelly]

I agree America needs national health care but the only way to get there is to elect a democrat for president and more democrat senators. The right wing is going to do everything in their power to sabotage a new health care policy for all people.

[jonedelleman]

funkysmelly - do you remember President Clintin ? He is a Democrat. He was in office for eight years. Did he bring national health care ? His wife couldn't come up with a good plan, either, although there wuld have been a lot of money in it for her. I am talking about President of National Health Care.

[jonedelleman]

funkysmelly, I say it agai. What did Clinton do for Universal Health Care ? He had the White House, the House and the Senate. Why didn't he do it ? May be because there is no easy way ?

[newmac]

visiting the doc about a health concern is like negociating for a damned bank loan..... this must end, it is foul, and yes, immoral.

[jonedelleman]

Michael Moore, what is your insurance company ? Did you join the uninsured to thank them for making you another 4 Million ? Why are you showing this film for profit ? How would you pay thse doctors and nurses for their work, buy new equipment, pay utilities ? With tax payer money ?

[ryan4230]

Is MM less of a person because he makes a living making docmentrys? Would it be better that he donate all the profits to sick children in China? Does Fox make money? CNN? My entire family live in countrys with Univ.HC, they all get treatment for diab., heart surgery, eye surgery, I could go on for another ten pages of all the free med. care they got, had they lived in the US they would be FUCKED! I live in the US and can't wait to leave!!!

[jonedelleman]

Ryan, of course, Michael Moore is not less of a person because he makes documentaries. He is less of a person because of his personality. Too many parts of his movies are made up and staged to be really called "documentaries." He lies in order to make a point. Why are all his points anti-American ? Ever asked yourself that? He made all his money here. He can't get over his childhood trauma and we all have to be insulted. Puh ! Anybody wiht bad taste can screw Michael Moore !

[Girli951]

jonedelleman, I believe you are mistaken on this point. Michael Moore is not anti-American. It is not patriotism to blindly defend everything your government does. It is every citizen's responsibility to point out the flaws in our government and work to fix them. Whether it is completely true or not, Michael Moore firmly believes everything he puts in his documentaries.

[jonedelleman]

Well, if it is not completely true, it is not a documentary. What I don't understand it why he has to go into the world and wash our dirty linen there. Does that do anything to advance the cause ? If he had put all that money into an American campaign of some kind, there would be less questioning of his motives and something CONSTRUCTIVE could have been started. This way, I see it as a psychopathological attempt to get even with someone.

Counterproductive, that's all.

[Girli951]

I'm not commenting on whether or not it's a documentary, I'm commenting on the fact that I don't believe he is perpetuating lies to dupe people or make money. HE believes it to be true. Sorta like Bush saying the war is going well, I don't think HE thinks he's lying, I think he honestly believes it. He also truely believes this war was the right thing to do.

[Girli951]

I understand that you do not agree with Mr. Moore and maybe you didn't mean "psychopathological" in the literal sense. But just in case you did, I can assure you, Mr. Moore does not meet the DSM IV criteria. He IS doing something constructive-if nothing else, he is bringing awareness to a very real problem.

[Girli951]

I don't understand why you think this isn't an American campaign. Watch some of his interviews, he is very clear about saying "I'm not saying these other systems are perfect and we should be just like them. What I am saying is instead of totally re-inventing the wheel, we could at least look at the different systems and pick what's best from each of them, add to it, and build our own." I think that is a pretty solid plan.

[jonedelleman]

ryan, if all your relatives get universal health care for nothing, then they must be on welfare. All other countries that I know of make people pay monthly premiums. They don't have to if they are on welfare. It is a felacy to believe that health care in Europe is free. It might be free in China, I don't know. But I would rather live here and have my health savings accout than live in China. You never know if they need to sell your organs, so what kind of a situation is that ?

[ryan4230]

All my family members have great jobs, and my mum is semi-retired! They have HC because their work pays for it, all of it, not half or some bs HSA, the full amount. They companys can do this because it doesn't cost much. My sister,brother and mum have diab. and they don't pay a red fucking cent for any meds. Now they do pay higher taxes, however when I factor in the cost that I pay here for HC, @4-10k p/y, and I take no meds, don't smoke/drink, am I really that far ahead?

[polyflavor]

I saw the whole movie for free on google, didn't cost me a dime. I think what MM tried to show with this movie is that in places like London, which is a very expensive place to live, a doctor makes a good living and the public still has access to free health care. You can see the movie yourself, if you haven't yet.

[hoctor]

without Moore there would be nothing but the hollow, schlock post-yuppie pukes like those raised on Reagun-Bush lies like O'Hannity. Amurika is dying like a sick patient on its death bed. 584 days left on the clock for Prez asshole

[tallie84]

THANK YOU MICHAEL!

Right on the money.

[viriduspuck]

MICHAEL MOORE ROCKS! GORE2008

[VicksieDo]

Love you Michael! Keep up your important work!!!!!!!!

[geniocracynow]

There is no god.

Thank you Michael Moore.

[jonedelleman]

"There is no god.

Thank you Michael Moore. "

Well, with Saint Michael, you don't need a God, right ? Do you know that he is laughing about people like you who pay to see his propaganda and make him 3 Million richer ? Inform yourself. Europe is no better in health care than the US. I was in Germany and had to get US health insurance so that a doctor or hospital would see me. He is a big, fat, stinking liar.

[bdx22]

You must be a conservative right? Still mad about Farenheight 911? Get over it. Republicans nowadays are the most dishonest people in the history of politics and its people like you who HATE others who point it out. i.e. Michael Moore.

[Dan5819]

You said it, bdx22!!!

Republicans nowadays are nothing less than greedy crooks and liars.

Michael Moore is right! There is no room for PROFIT when it comes our healthcare!!

[jonedelleman]

No profit in health care. o.k. The same salaries for all doctors. o.k.

Imagine : all the doctors left the States to go where they can afford to pay back their education loans.

You guys are thinking in too simple terms.

Besides, the brother of Profits is "LOSS."

We can a health care system based on losses even LESS.

[geniocracynow]

Yes with Saint Michael Moore, I am proud being a human.

Not like the Bush family criminals who killed 20000000 children in IRAQ.

[dizzyskittlez]

When someone says that Michael Moore is pathetic or a publicity hound or whatever, I tell them they are missing the point completely.

Michael Moore has the COURAGE to stand up and say what is true when everyone else lacks the backbone to do it.

GOD BLESS MICHAEL MOORE!

[abyrd2000]

I love it! Michael is bringing a topic to the table that the American government should be embarrassed by. Why have our representatives not had the balls to get this right yet? Oh yeah, their corporate sponsors...

[newmac]

Quite frankly; Michael Moore is a national treasure; while george bush is a national scourge. Proof that one person can change the world for the better...;-)

[chadwicks733]

Right on, Michael!! Keep fighting.

[jonedelleman]

Michael forgot to mention that Castro has his own emergency room on the fourth floor of his building and that he has one of the best doctors in the Middle East attending to him. Not A CUBAN !

[KamikazeKoscki]

Right on! Unverisal Health Care and Unverisal Legal care, careless people should not be in charge of caring for people. What can we do to help you!