April 14, 2015
Don't Just 'Give It Up'

Dear Dr. Laura, 

I am a 45-year-old man who works for a hospital as a department director. Recently at the hospital I had an experience that frustrated my colleagues, but I know you would be proud of me. 

In our leadership group, we were discussing the impact and effects the Healthcare Reform Act would bring to us as an industry and how we would still be able to survive financially while offering high levels of compassionate care to our patients. As a group we were given several scenarios we could face as a hospital and, one at a time, we were to comment on the "real" issue involved. Here is one scenario: 

A 19-year-old woman, living in government assisted housing, unemployed, and with no healthcare is also 7 1/2 months pregnant. She has not had prenatal care because of her finances and has recently begun spotting and cramping. She checks in to the ER and is scared because she knows "something" is wrong, but also cannot afford the care she needs. What is the real problem she is facing?

Irritably, all of the other directors agreed it was a rising cost of healthcare mixed with the unavailability of services which led her to be scared and stay away from the necessary help she needed until there was a crisis. The consensus was the government needed a better structure to assist those down and out and who truly need the care they cannot otherwise afford. My frustration levels grew each time I heard this sentiment regurgitated over and over. 

I was the last one to speak, and when my opinion was asked for, I gladly gave it. "Well, the real problem here is we have a young girl who treats sex like a recreational activity. She is not in a committed relationship with a man who loves her and is dedicated to her and their future children, yet she willingly gives it up. She cannot provide for the child she is going to have and is depending on the system to shell out more resources for her since she now can't work and she won't have to. I'll be more than happy to call CPS when the baby is born, and have them assess her issues." 

Needless to say, the other directors' bothered looks had no effect on me at all, as I am proud to say, I am a man married for 26 years, with a 15-year-old daughter and a wife who willingly stays home for us. Though she does not go to a company and earn a salary, she works very hard for all of us. I am proud to take care of the bills so she does not need to worry about them, which in turn allows me to focus on my family's spiritual and material needs. 

Thank you Dr. Laura for all you do. 

Thaddeus

 

Posted by Staff at 10:58 AM