[Mb-civic] Subsidy or surveillance: Too high a price

[Cheeseburger]

Subsidy or surveillance: Too high a price

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2004/08/28/subsidy_or_surveillance_too_high_a_price/

ON SEPT. 1, a new federal program will give Massachusetts hospitals $2 
million to help pay costs of caring for uninsured patients who are not 
citizens or lawful immigrants, so-called "undocumented" persons. In return 
hospitals must ask about and report patients' legal status during emergency 
department visits. This policy will only succeed in keeping people away 
from needed care.

For example, many of our patients report that doctors in their home country 
have falsified hospital reports to cover up government sponsored torture. 
It has been reported that 20 percent of asylum seekers claim that a health 
professional participated in torture. It is a challenge at times even to 
convince patients that what they tell us is protected and confidential.


Cheeseburger

- Where has the sparrow gone now that I need its song.