Uninsured Hospital Patients

Re “County Begins Rejecting Ill; Hospitals Brace for Impact,” Sept. 2:

I am deeply offended by Dr. David Higgins’ characterization of a typical uninsured patient as “a belligerent, drunk, angry person who has HIV and a bullet wound.” His judgmental, “blame the victim” attitude does disservice to the medical profession. I am a physician who practices at one of the county hospitals and my typical uninsured patient does not fit his description. Most of my patients are decent people with chronic disease such as hypertension and diabetes who simply cannot afford private health insurance and are not poor enough to qualify for government aid such as Medi-Cal. Many are self-employed or working at a job that doesn’t provide insurance. I do agree that by closing county clinics we will see consequences of long-term complications of treatable diseases that will cost the society far more than the $1.2-billion budget shortfall. Health care reform is definitely needed, but not at the cost of the lives of the “poor.”

SARAH J. RO MD

Torrance

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* There are retired physicians who are looking for something to do who are willing to help the indigent by providing medical care. Liability waivers and malpractice insurance can be provided by the state. This has worked in Florida where 100 doctors and support staff volunteers have treated 10,000 patients a year. It can be effective here.

JARVEY GILBERT MD

Burbank

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* I would be willing to pay a yearly “hospital tax” that would enable our present tax-supported hospitals to stay open. To allow them to close is insane and sick.

Surely each of us can eliminate one day of vacation in Las Vegas, Hawaii, Paris, Japan, Italy, Buenos Aires, China, Korea, Russia, England and other places that Americans travel to, in order to help women, children and men in need of operations that will prevent trips to cemeteries for those less fortunate than thousands of us happy, healthy vacationers.

I might add that all politicians should be leading the fight to keep the hospitals open, come what may, especially those who get to enjoy vacations paid for by voters.

DUKE RUSSELL

Hollywood