Moore's 'Sicko' Rings Close to Home for This Reporter

There is still triumph left in this world, and Michael Moore delivers a documentary about the healthcare industry that leaves the mind reeling and stinging.

(SALEM, Ore.) - As Americans die in increasing numbers through the greed of hospitals, healthcare organizations and insurance companies, it adds insult to injury to learn that our lifespan in the states is less than many third world countries.

As our nation struggles in a desperate search for answers, those at the root of the problem do nothing to help. They should be more than embarrassed, and we should be more than angry.

Billions of dollars are flowing into the pockets of the richest CEO's and shareholders pockets as Americans die needless and avoidable deaths. All because our national priorities are exclusively money driven.

As our country descends the ladder of health, enter Michael Moore and "Sicko."

When I watched this documentary for the first time, I was forced to think about my own recent situation in Afghanistan, where I covered the war for two months last winter with a hernia belt holding me together.

I just read a passage about a Las Vegas Vietnam Vet named Mike; "a man with a razor blade scar and a sharp sense of humor," who was found dead in a ditch along the railroad tracks, dead from a gastrointestinal hemorrhage.

Author Matthew O’Brien of "Beneath the Neon" concludes that paragraph with, "I guess he never had hernia surgery. No insurance, no hospital bed."

That is how America treats its vets. They die in agony on the roadside because they don't have health insurance.

So there I was last November, on the verge of shipping overseas to cover my first war. I had to receive a thousand dollars worth of shots, and I had a severe hernia in what one nurse called “the lower 40.”

I understand lower hernias are fairly dangerous. If it goes, the owner usually goes with it, unless a hospital is very close by. Of course it would also have to be a hospital that accepted a patient without insurance, and those seem to be disappearing in this country.

I tried to work out a plan with my local hospital in Salem; they said they would be happy to arrange the surgery, as long as I could pay the bill on the spot for it. Everyone packs a few thousand bucks around, right? It isn’t like the economy is sagging or anything like that.

Besides, it is hard and expensive to own and operate your own groundbreaking media business, the only independent Internet news site in America, and some expenses like the $1,000+ a month insurance premium are just not on the radar right now. Certainly some will fault me, we are all supposed to be able to pay our own way, but the costs for a hernia surgery are out of line in this country.

I think that attitude about money and health care that I found at Salem, Oregon's hospital, is exactly what Moore is talking about in Sicko. We have dropped to a point where healthcare is only a business in this country; the heart was removed from it long ago.

That is not to say that there aren’t dedicated professionals because there are, but far more seem to be in it for the pay and the golfing.

I went to the war carrying about 120 pounds of gear. The kidney belt worked remarkably well, and I was able to always tighten it just a little more when necessary to put my hernia back inside the old lower stomach wall.

So at the end of my story about hernias and war, a $15 kidney belt from Ebay was the saving grace. I had far better things to say about that Internet commerce group at the time than my local hospital, that’s for sure.

At the time, I was the only staff reporter from any Oregon media organization who was covering, or willing to cover the troops. A reporter affiliated with KGW was in another part of Afghanistan at the time covering Canadian military operations. It seemed important to at least 900 Oregon families.

I admit that when I approached the hospital I naively thought they would be easy to work with, since I was heading out to cover the 900 Oregon combat troops in Afghanistan.

I figured I would get the surgery and make payments, it seemed reasonable at the time. But that is not the reality of people without insurance in the U.S.A. Instead, I was simply told “no.” Even though I was heading to a combat zone, Salem Hospital could not even consider letting me get the surgery and deal with payment later.

I thought about this hospital one day when I tried to jump aboard an Army CH-47 helicopter at Gardez, Afghanistan, loaded with Afghan combat soldiers on a mission. I didn’t have the strength or stamina to make that last step up the load ramp with all my gear. Two soldiers saw what was going on and they quickly helped me get my stuff aboard. I think I did very well overall, covering a war with a bulging hernia in my abdomen.

I tried to figure out why Moore’s disputed new movie made me so emotional, almost distraught, and then I connected the things I am writing about right now. My own misery at war with a hernia, the denial of the surgery, and the general fear of dying in combat, it all takes a toll; but the story about the Vietnam vet dying because he couldn’t have a routine surgery for a hernia was the true catalyst.

It is noteworthy that Sicko is not a George W. Bush bash-a-thon. It is a movie that grabs your heart and does things that you would never imagine.

What everybody who goes to war looks
forward to; a family welcome home party

The health management organizations like Kaiser Permanente are Moore’s enemies, and the pharmaceutical groups that are raping America in terms of costs, especially our senior citizens. Moore has the courage to call it what it is.

I take it his detractors on this one are all in favor of HMO’s and the pharmaceutical companies.

There is still triumph left in this world, and Michael Moore delivers a documentary about the healthcare industry that leaves the mind reeling and stinging.

In the end, Moore writes a $12,000.00 check to the man who maintains the largest anti-Michael Moore Website in America. It seems the man’s wife is gravely ill, and he had to choose between her health and his anti-Moore Website. He chose his wife.

Michael Moore said that didn’t seem fair or right, and then anonymously gave him the funds to get that anti-Michael Moore Website back on the air.

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Tim King July 17, 2007 5:46 pm (Pacific time)

Madeline and Ian, you are wonderful.

C. Potter; it saddens me to read your story, but the truth is so valuable and necessary, I commend you for taking the time to help people realize what the real world is like.

Ederlore, Henry and Gigi- I appreciate your words also. I was a bit of a hothead in an earlier comment but geez, I truly am disturbed by the spirit people choose to exhibit here.

Ask and ye shall receive, Carla and Sue: you remind us all that all hope is indeed not lost.

Thanks Tim: it seems true that if they lie often enough, they gain a group of believers no matter the facts.

Robin, I know it is shocking and I am sorry to hear about what happened to your friend when he was hurt.

Anne: you have every right to criticize me but we don't see eye to eye on this one. I have said plenty in my life about reporters "not being the story." But I went to Afghanistan for two months and I did it in ill health because I had a job to do. I think you are overreacting and it strikes me as odd. I tell everyone else's story and even my own once in a while.

Donna, we were overwhelmed when we saw what you and Michael and everyone else went through and how kindly you were treated by the Cubans. I am honored to have you here. Michael Moore Fan and S. LaMarche, you are great. We all love this country and want to see it be what it was meant to be.

Madeline July 17, 2007 9:48 am (Pacific time)

Tim King, bravo! Thank you for telling the truth. Are we barbarians in this country? Is only money sacred? Not life, not love, just money? Please let us fight for justic and goodness and mercy.

Ian H July 16, 2007 11:41 pm (Pacific time)

Tim, your story really hits home to me. Like you, I've had hernias in the "lower 40" as you put it--both of mine are (or perhaps I should say were) about 1 inch from the groin. I could only imagine what it would be like to try to handle a rucksack and equipment with this! Unlike you, however, I live in Canada; and because of that fact, both of my hernias were expertly repaired, and have not given me one whit of trouble in the years since. I only had to wait 3-4 weeks to see the surgeon, and a few days later I was on the operating table. I didn't have to shell out one red cent for the surgery or the hospital stay or the nursing care provided at home after the fact. Michael Moore is dead-on with his latest movie, "Sicko." It's long past-due for Americans to rid themselves of the fear of the "socialized medicine" bogeyman--we had a system identical to yours, and we changed it. We're never going back to the way it used to be in the bad old days.

Tony July 16, 2007 8:56 am (Pacific time)

July 1 2007 Saskatchewan Govt announces that all seniors will pay a maximum of $15 for any prescription !! O Canada

C. Potter July 15, 2007 10:31 pm (Pacific time)

In the 1980's my life was changed in a permanant way by my fathers lack of insurance. Evidentally, some of you believe that he did not deserve his gall bladder surgery because he took work that did not provide insurance. In 1977 my father was told he needed gall bladder surgery, but because of his lack of coverage he could not get it. Finally, in 1985 he was able to get help through a vocational rehab group because he is missing a hand-not because he NEEDED it. To shorten this just let me say, because of being on the indigent floor, waiting so long, etc. Because he had serious complications that required 9 momths in ICU. We became homeless and I had to get a job instead of starting college. I was diagnosed with RA when I was 19 and had cancer at age 37. My experiences with both illnesses are also complicated and worse because I did'nt have coverage. I guess because I didn't get it before I got sick I don't deserve it.

Ederlore July 15, 2007 7:54 pm (Pacific time)

I guess Otter is one of those dumbasses who thinks privatising the police and fire dept would be a good idea. We can only hope that one day he gets to "walk in the other man's shoes" so he can learn what it means to be human. He lives by the mantra of NeoConism "If you can't afford it, you don't deserve it."

Henry Ruark July 15, 2007 2:14 pm (Pacific time)

In the 70's I consulted on media programs for training hospital financial officers for national association in Chicago. We did over 100 slide-tape programs widely used here and internationally. Have been closely following and writing ever since about the health care system as it broke under distortion, perversion from corporate control. Let me endorse Nurse GiGi in full; she knows picture from working experience. Other comments generally negative reflect painful ignorance, some an "attack attitude" surely out of place in civilized society. We are a money-driven culture and many of our poor and helpless continue to pay the price, while many who should know better beat on the decent working people like Tim doing the damnedest they can !

gigi July 15, 2007 12:22 pm (Pacific time)

I have been a California licensed nurse for 35 years. My mom and dad were in Pearl Harbor in the military. My mom was a MASH nurse. Both of them were injured in the war. My mom was trained at Tripler. I do not practice as a nurse anymore. I became literally sick and disgusted at the downhill slide and corruption in medicine in the last 40 years. I would leave home in tears, exhausted and frustrated. This country needs to wake up! The only thing that makes sense is to take the profit out of medicine, to make it a single payee system and craft a system that works, not kills, it's patients. I will be one of the nurses marching and working and being vocal about all this because it feels good not to suffer in sadness and frustration anymore. When you get a corporation telling a doctor how to do medicine and a person denied to die....this is America! I saw this so many hundreds of times. ....The $28.00 one time use only disposable dialysis filter being used 20 times to save money. Meanwhile the filter grows staph, and oh, by the way, kills the patient.....my mother was the most excellent nurse I have ever witnessed, and in her honor I will fight this good fight. Don't let the PR flacks scare you into believing it cannot work. Their specialty is fear and manipulation. Look past their rhetoric and pull up the staggering profits they maintain. Do we want to leave ourselves and children and grandchildren in a situation where fear permeates every thing they do. How can a country remain great if people have to consciously rein themselves in mentally in case they get hurt or injured. What kind of creativity, hard work, or brilliance does that engender? We need to smarten up and GET vocal. The most poignant moment in Moore's film SICKO was the quote from a frenchperson, "In France the government is afraid of the people, in America the people are afraid of their government." I think that is a true statement. We should all be outraged. I know I have been for decades, and my mum and grandfather, the doctor, are spinning in their graves. Respectfully, g.g.schaumburrg san diego

gigi July 15, 2007 12:19 pm (Pacific time)

I have been a California licensed nurse for 35 years. My mom and dad were in Pearl Harbor in the military. My mom was a MASH nurse. Both of them were injured in the war. My mom wastrained at Tripler. I do not prractice as a nurse anymmore. I became literally sick and disgusted at the downhill slide and corruption in medicine in the last 40 years. I would leave home in tears, exhausted and frustrated. This country needs to wakke up! The only thing that makes sense is to take the profit out of medicine, to make it a single payee system and craft a system that works, not kills, it's patients. I will be one of the nurses marching and working and being vocal about all this because it feels good not to suffer in sadness and frustration anymore. When you get a corporation telling a doctor how to do medcine and a person denieed to die....this is America! I saw this so many hundreds of times. ....The $28.00 one time use only disposible dialysis filter being used 20 times to save money. Meanwhile the filterr grows staph, and oh, by the way, kills the patient.....my mother was the most excellent nurse I have ever witnessed, and in her honor I will fight this good fight. Don't let the PR flacks scare you into believing it cannot work. Their specialty is fear and manipulation. Look past their rhetoric and pull up the staggering prrofits they maintain. Do we want to leave ourselves and children and granchildren in a situation where fear permeates every thingg tthey do. How can a country remain ggreat if people have to consciously rein themselves in mentally in case they get hurt or injured. What kind of creativity, hard work, or brilliance does that engender? We need to smarten up and GET vocal. The most poignant moment in Moore's film SICKO was the quote from a frenchperson, "In Frrance the government is afraid of the people, in America the people are afraid of their government." I think that is a true statement. We should all be outraged. I know I have been for decades, and my mum and grandfather, the doctor, are spinning in their graves. Respectfully, g.g.schaumburrg san diego

Carla Bell July 14, 2007 9:59 pm (Pacific time)

I find the insulting comments directed at Tim both tasteless (especially given the recent deaths of his parents, whom he clearly loved). Rather than lobbing insults and criticisms at him, perhaps your perspective might include gratitude for his reporting, as well as for his website, which keeps us up-to-date on current events. As the saying goes, "Take what you like, and leave the rest." And, thanks, Tim, and condolences to you and to your family.

Ask and ye shall receive July 14, 2007 9:11 pm (Pacific time)

I asked what kind of black-hearted schmuck doesn't care, and lo' and behold Otter steps up as the blackest-hearted schmuck of them all. It would be amusing if the lack of affordable health care in this country wasn't killing so many of us, financially and literally. It's this "I've got mine so screw you" attitude that is ruining everything America used to stand for, yet the most selfish of us absurdly call themselves the patriots. But guess what, Otter, even self-centered wingnuts get sick, get denied, lose jobs and go bankrupt due to health care costs. I'll bet a year's worth of insurance premiums that we won't be hearing "You've got yours, so screw me!" when it happens to you.

Tim King July 14, 2007 5:44 pm (Pacific time)

Hey unknown, I wish I could have about five minutes with you in an alley, I'd show you what a beggar is. You are pathetic and a little POS who gets big balls on the Internet. Well good for you, your words and I'm sure life too, are very meaningless.

Otter, you're a joke to me too, do you enjoy cruising the thesaurus to find words that make you look intelligent? Guess what, it didn't work.

Sue July 14, 2007 4:36 pm (Pacific time)

It would cost less if all of us were covered and the insurance company CEOs didn't make BILLIONS! Noone should die or suffer because they are not the "priviliged" with coverage. To those of you that think this is Tim's fault for not putting his health a priority, I wonder if you have ever needed to work to make sure that your dependants had food on the table, or that they had their basic needs? I don't know Tim or his situation, but I know others that have to put themselves last in order to take care of those they love.

Otter July 14, 2007 11:14 am (Pacific time)

You made the wrong choice and you blame society for it? That's rich and oh so emblematic of anecdotal, "feel good' damn the facts reporting practiced by self aggrandizers, such as you and Moore. You said it yourself, your health was not your priority and you think that it is everyone elses obligation to pay for your decisions. And to your statement that US vets do not have medical coverage is as full of junk as you seem to be.

Thanks Tim July 13, 2007 4:49 pm (Pacific time)

Much of the MSM is doing its darnedest to sabotage SiCKO's message. I always ask myself, who are these people? How can anyone live in this country without at least knowing someone who has been put through the wringer by the insurance industry? What kind of black-hearted schmuck doesn't care? Our president for one, who actually had the nerve to state in a recent speech in Cleveland, "People have access to health care in America. After all, just go an emergency room." Freaking moron.

Robin July 13, 2007 4:17 pm (Pacific time)

I didn't think I could be shocked more by your article. I haven't seen Moore's film yet and really don't understand the US system that well. There does seem to be a common belief by Americans however that "people" are covered "somehow" for such things but continually I hear these horror stories. I had a friend in college that slipped on ice in NY and cracked his head open. They treated him as an emergency the day of the event but he had no insurance and obtained no follow up care. The brain swelled and he became an emergency again. To me it all seemed so ridiculous.

Unknown July 13, 2007 3:54 pm (Pacific time)

I think you might be over doing about yourself. It sounds like you are a begger. Or wanting some attention.

Anne July 13, 2007 2:59 pm (Pacific time)

Well Tim, it's hard to deny that "the media" is becoming "the story" on an ever increasing basis these days. I truly sympathize with your experience, but took exception with your journalistic style. To each their own I suppose.

Tim King July 13, 2007 12:18 pm (Pacific time)

Anne, That was pretty rude; your lack of compassion is utterly unavoidable.

Henry Ruark July 12, 2007 1:58 pm (Pacific time)

Anne et al: "Objective" is an anomaly depending on personal experience not truly shared, but hidden behind careful construction, intentional or otherwise. For me photos demanded to make situation as realistic as possible, which I believe is why Tim included them. For the record, have very similar experince from Chicago when they had to work on me since ambulance-delivered, unconscious; major surgery costly but they had little choice...and took me three years to pay-back via only honest lawyer I ever found...

Osotan; July 12, 2007 12:06 am (Pacific time)

we already knew you had guts Tim.

Anne July 11, 2007 4:45 pm (Pacific time)

Clearly you've been through a lot and have personal experience on this very issue but isn't littering your article with 6 photos of yourself a bit narcissistic and distracting from the real story here? Michael Moore was smart enough to realize that for "Sicko" to really be heard, it needed to include less of himself.

Anonymous July 11, 2007 9:30 am (Pacific time)

I haven't seen the documentary yet but am looking forward to it. My daughter almost died from her last bought with a very bad abcess caused by bad teeth. She did not have health insurance so was unable to get the necessary dental assistance needed to get her teeth pulled. In desperation, I took out a loan to get her teeth tended to. She has now been pain free and infection free for three years and looks beautiful with her new teeth. She almost died with teh last round of infection and no dentist would help her without the money. Her health has greatly improved and so has her attitude. The small construction company her husband worked for did not carry a health insurance plan for employees because of the excessive costs. Their children are covered by the Oregon Health Plan but the adults are not eligible.

Donna Smith July 11, 2007 6:52 am (Pacific time)

Tim, My husband and I are in SiCKO, and your article is one of the most touching I have read in recent weeks. No one should live and work with a hernia because they lack health insurance coverage or cash. That's just wrong. Thank you for writing your piece and for stating so many of the issues and problems so eloquently. Respectfully, I do not want Americans to have to take medical trips to other nations -- as I did to Cuba in SiCKO -- in order to get care. The system here must be fixed. Universal, single-payer (no insurance company involved) health care for every American needs to be implemented sooner rather than later. Thanks, again, for the article.

Michael Moore Fan July 10, 2007 8:35 pm (Pacific time)

This movie tells it like it is in America right now. Any American who thinks they have the best medical system in the world needs to see this movie and get real. I was so moved by this expose I could not contain my sorrow and wept, deeply for my country and its people.

S.LaMarche; July 10, 2007 6:24 pm (Pacific time)

nice one S-N! The donation from M.Moore hadn't made the news. I got a full set of dentures including two minor operations on lower jaw to remove some bone that interfeared with the fit on lower plate, 18 extractions of which 13 had broken below and above the gum line and the meds.,total was the equivilant of 480.00 U.S. in Koh Phangan, Thailand. The dentaist was the best I'd ever gone to and I am almost sixty,. so I'd been to a few. Fear of pain kept me at bay till it was impossible to eat and I mde my way reluctantly to Phangan. It was over in four days extraction wise and my new teeth are a year old and I get to eat again!, so save up your dough and fly to Thailand for around 800 bucks R.T., (no shots required) and get your medical stuff in order on the cheap! Shop around online in Bangkok and you'll find your place, or just get to Koh Phangan and see Dr. Taeng for your dental needs.

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