May 16, 2005
The second part of a series in the Times discusses what role social class plays in health care in the United States. Reading this comparison of the way three different heart-attack patients were treated illustrates not only social class differences, but gender inequities as well. But in this cases illustrated, all of the patients at least had one form or another of health insurance. And what of the plight of the uninsured souls -- I guess their fate is either too grim to explore or not worth mentioning ? It is extremely frustrating to watch the public vote in leaders who place more emphasis on such things as fighting gay marriage, inserting creationism in and taking evolution out of textbooks, and keeping condoms or birth control out of sex education and keeping feeding tubes in patients in persistent vegetative states against their will. What will it take to awaken people to their obligation to their brothers and sisters of basic health care? Where's the "justice for all?" -- Linda Glenn