Please Support 'United in Health.'
- by: Scarlett Spicer
- recipient: Not Specified.
Preamble
Patients cannot be refused access to their medical records, no. However, the medical establishment is set up in such a way that, though the doctors can request each individual record free of charge, the patients are required to pay for them. Generally, each page of the record costs approximately $.50. Each record, however, consists of several pages. The American people are already struggling due to the high costs and strict stipulations of the insurance companies. There are, in fact, several medical establishments that have the right to refuse various types of insurance. This leaves patients in a financial quagmire and also means that they are generally not able to receive the healthcare that so many of them desperately need. The additional cost required, should a patient request their personal medical records, and proves to be an additional and unnecessary strain.
If doctors communicated with one another, instead of competing, then the cost would not make much of a difference. However, doctors do not make a habit of forwarding ALL records, if any, to one another (especially from another state). The patient, therefore, incurs more costs. Furthermore, the patient is literally forced to begin any treatment entirely anew. This is not, obviously, conducive to a healthy existence.
If a patient, however, were able to access their individual records with little to no complication, they would have a voice that they typically do not have at the moment. They would be able to ensure that whomever they saw truly reviewed all of their medical history, which would force those who work within the medical establishment to consider both the patient's point-of-view and the views of other physicians, psychiatrists, etc. regarding said patient's health.
Thus, in my opinion, every patient's rights are being violated. Healthcare should not be based on finances. We are a wealthy country and should easily be able to ensure affordable, quality healthcare for all.
It is important to note that there are several other establishments that require revenue before they will release personal records. CPS and Social Services are two such examples. Like the medical establishment, clients are generally unable to afford this cost. If a client, or patient, is dissatisfied with the service and wishes to either file a complaint or negotiate, they are told that they must have these records. Needless to say, a welfare recipient is not going to be able to afford this. The end result is that those in good financial standing are making all of the decisions and those who are struggling discover that their hands are tied, that there is nothing that they can do but accept their lot in life - accept the lousy healthcare that they may be receiving (especially if they have an ongoing medical condition) - and accept that if they piss off a doctor or social worker that they will slip further through the cracks of the system, as it is solely at the doctor's or social worker's discretion as to whether or not they choose to share vital information with the next doctor or social worker. Though files are, of course, typically shared to some extent, the law does not require ALL available information to be forwarded and/or shared.
I think that this is because, ultimately, every American wants to ensure that this country remains free. Requiring all available information and documentation to be shared borders on 'big brother,' on one-world-government. I am of the opinion, however, that if an individual is an upstanding citizen who is truly trying to do the best that they can do in any given situation, that this required sharing of all files will assist them. It will also, obviously, cut down on those within our society who currently abuse the system.
Note: Many patients who have been diagnosed with various mental illnesses do not agree with their diagnosis. There are still many unanswered questions pertaining to mental disorders. For example, in North Carolina many individuals are being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. In the state of Texas, however, the same condition is diagnosed as being a schizoid-affective disorder. Each condition requires very different treatment. Many individuals who have Bipolar Disorder are initially misdiagnosed with ADHD. The medication prescribed for ADHD causes Bipolar patients to remain excessively manic and does not, at all, cure the depression associated with this illness. Doctors typically do not like to share all information with another physician and/or psychologist because they firmly believe in their own diagnosis and do not like it when they are questioned. It is our right, however, to question anyone who requires us to take medication that we may not actually need. It is our right to remain informed regarding our own personal health and state of mind.
Please review the following. Present requirements violate several portions of the Constitution and, furthermore, our elected officials are required by the Constitution to uphold this suggestion and possibly ensure that OUR GOVERNMENT supplies the revenue that these medical institutions require – with particular regard to the cost of personal medical records incurred by every concerned, self-sufficient, hard-working American patient.
Violates:
1) Preamble
a) Promote the GENERAL WELFARE.
2) Section 8
a) The Congress shall have power to...to pay the debts and provide for the...GENERAL WELFARE of the United States.
3) Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression.
a) Congress shall make no law...abridging the FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
4) Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure.
a) The right of the people to be SECURE IN THEIR PERSONS, houses, PAPERS, and effects, against UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES, shall not be violated.
5) Amendment 8 - Cruel and Unusual Punishment.
a) ...nor EXCESSIVE FINES imposed...
6) Amendment 9 - Construction of Constitution.
a) The enumeration in the Constitution, OF CERTAIN RIGHTS, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
7) Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People.
a) The powers not de legated to the United States by the Constitution, or prohibited by it to the States are reserved to the States respectively, OR TO THE PEOPLE.
8) Amendment 14 - Citizenship Rights. Article 4, Section 1, 5
a) No State shall make or ENFORCE ANY LAW which shall ABRIDGE THE PRIVILEGES or immunities OF CITIZENS of the United States.
b) THE CONGRESS SHALL HAVE POWER TO ENFORCE, by appropriate legislation, THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
9) Article. IV. - The States
Section 1 - Each State to Honor all others
a) Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the PUBLIC ACTS, RECORDS, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general law prescribe the manner in which such ACTS, RECPRDS and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.
10) Section 4 - Republican government
a) ... AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
11) Article. VI. - Debts, Supremacy, Oaths
a) THIS CONSTITUTION, and the Laws of the United States...SHALL BE THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND; and the JUDGES IN EVERY STATE SHALL BE BOUND thereby.
b) The SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES before mentioned, and the MEMBERS OF the several STATE LEGISLATURES, and ALL EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIAL OFFICERS SHALL BE BOUND BY OATH OR AFFIRMATION TO SUPPORT THIS CONSTITUTION.
12) Please refer to EX POST FACTO and HABEAS CORPUS.
Patients cannot be refused access to their medical records, no. However, the medical establishment is set up in such a way that, though the doctors can request each individual record free of charge, the patients are required to pay for them. Generally, each page of the record costs approximately $.50. Each record, however, consists of several pages. The American people are already struggling due to the high costs and strict stipulations of the insurance companies. There are, in fact, several medical establishments that have the right to refuse various types of insurance. This leaves patients in a financial quagmire and also means that they are generally not able to receive the healthcare that so many of them desperately need. The additional cost required, should a patient request their personal medical records, and proves to be an additional and unnecessary strain.
If doctors communicated with one another, instead of competing, then the cost would not make much of a difference. However, doctors do not make a habit of forwarding ALL records, if any, to one another (especially from another state). The patient, therefore, incurs more costs. Furthermore, the patient is literally forced to begin any treatment entirely anew. This is not, obviously, conducive to a healthy existence.
If a patient, however, were able to access their individual records with little to no complication, they would have a voice that they typically do not have at the moment. They would be able to ensure that whomever they saw truly reviewed all of their medical history, which would force those who work within the medical establishment to consider both the patient's point-of-view and the views of other physicians, psychiatrists, etc. regarding said patient's health.
Thus, in my opinion, every patient's rights are being violated. Healthcare should not be based on finances. We are a wealthy country and should easily be able to ensure affordable, quality healthcare for all.
It is important to note that there are several other establishments that require revenue before they will release personal records. CPS and Social Services are two such examples. Like the medical establishment, clients are generally unable to afford this cost. If a client, or patient, is dissatisfied with the service and wishes to either file a complaint or negotiate, they are told that they must have these records. Needless to say, a welfare recipient is not going to be able to afford this. The end result is that those in good financial standing are making all of the decisions and those who are struggling discover that their hands are tied, that there is nothing that they can do but accept their lot in life - accept the lousy healthcare that they may be receiving (especially if they have an ongoing medical condition) - and accept that if they piss off a doctor or social worker that they will slip further through the cracks of the system, as it is solely at the doctor's or social worker's discretion as to whether or not they choose to share vital information with the next doctor or social worker. Though files are, of course, typically shared to some extent, the law does not require ALL available information to be forwarded and/or shared.
I think that this is because, ultimately, every American wants to ensure that this country remains free. Requiring all available information and documentation to be shared borders on 'big brother,' on one-world-government. I am of the opinion, however, that if an individual is an upstanding citizen who is truly trying to do the best that they can do in any given situation, that this required sharing of all files will assist them. It will also, obviously, cut down on those within our society who currently abuse the system.
Note: Many patients who have been diagnosed with various mental illnesses do not agree with their diagnosis. There are still many unanswered questions pertaining to mental disorders. For example, in North Carolina many individuals are being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. In the state of Texas, however, the same condition is diagnosed as being a schizoid-affective disorder. Each condition requires very different treatment. Many individuals who have Bipolar Disorder are initially misdiagnosed with ADHD. The medication prescribed for ADHD causes Bipolar patients to remain excessively manic and does not, at all, cure the depression associated with this illness. Doctors typically do not like to share all information with another physician and/or psychologist because they firmly believe in their own diagnosis and do not like it when they are questioned. It is our right, however, to question anyone who requires us to take medication that we may not actually need. It is our right to remain informed regarding our own personal health and state of mind.
Please review the following. Present requirements violate several portions of the Constitution and, furthermore, our elected officials are required by the Constitution to uphold this suggestion and possibly ensure that OUR GOVERNMENT supplies the revenue that these medical institutions require – with particular regard to the cost of personal medical records incurred by every concerned, self-sufficient, hard-working American patient.
Violates:
1) Preamble
a) Promote the GENERAL WELFARE.
2) Section 8
a) The Congress shall have power to...to pay the debts and provide for the...GENERAL WELFARE of the United States.
3) Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression.
a) Congress shall make no law...abridging the FREEDOM OF SPEECH.
4) Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure.
a) The right of the people to be SECURE IN THEIR PERSONS, houses, PAPERS, and effects, against UNREASONABLE SEARCHES AND SEIZURES, shall not be violated.
5) Amendment 8 - Cruel and Unusual Punishment.
a) ...nor EXCESSIVE FINES imposed...
6) Amendment 9 - Construction of Constitution.
a) The enumeration in the Constitution, OF CERTAIN RIGHTS, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
7) Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People.
a) The powers not de legated to the United States by the Constitution, or prohibited by it to the States are reserved to the States respectively, OR TO THE PEOPLE.
8) Amendment 14 - Citizenship Rights. Article 4, Section 1, 5
a) No State shall make or ENFORCE ANY LAW which shall ABRIDGE THE PRIVILEGES or immunities OF CITIZENS of the United States.
b) THE CONGRESS SHALL HAVE POWER TO ENFORCE, by appropriate legislation, THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
9) Article. IV. - The States
Section 1 - Each State to Honor all others
a) Full Faith and Credit shall be given in each State to the PUBLIC ACTS, RECORDS, and judicial Proceedings of every other State. And the Congress may by general law prescribe the manner in which such ACTS, RECPRDS and Proceedings shall be proved, and the Effect thereof.
10) Section 4 - Republican government
a) ... AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
11) Article. VI. - Debts, Supremacy, Oaths
a) THIS CONSTITUTION, and the Laws of the United States...SHALL BE THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND; and the JUDGES IN EVERY STATE SHALL BE BOUND thereby.
b) The SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES before mentioned, and the MEMBERS OF the several STATE LEGISLATURES, and ALL EXECUTIVE AND JUDICIAL OFFICERS SHALL BE BOUND BY OATH OR AFFIRMATION TO SUPPORT THIS CONSTITUTION.
12) Please refer to EX POST FACTO and HABEAS CORPUS.
Thousands upon thousands of petitions to sign! And they are all very important, all very vital.
How, therefore, can we reach our common goal? At the moment, we are all putting forth our ideas - vital ideas, life-changing ideas, WORLD-changing ideas - and find that we are all a bit overwhelmed ... that our work is never done ... that it sometimes feels as if we are standing in one spot and running about in circles.
First, we need to eliminate the problems that first led us to this point. These are the problems that initially created conflict for so many - that first made us stop and reflect in our tracks. Many of us are still pursuing these extreme issues, fortunately with friends (as opposed to when we first began speaking out).
One step at a time. We have to march together, one step at a time. I am reminded of the birthday parade Ecard that I sent to a fellow member/warrior today. In it, the snail never wavers but is quickly passed by the happy dog, the flowers, and even the butterfly (whom I truly expected would spin about in the air before my eyes on the screen as if it were on its own wind-magic roller coaster ride).
We could never be Natzi's, as we would never choose to revel in the same manner of dress, step, form of thought, and attitude. We are unique in our own uniqueness.
So what can we do?
We must concentrate on what is universal.
What is universal?
What affects us all? What do we all have in common?
We may be empathetic souls, but we do not all quite understand what it means to be physically beaten. We do not all quite know what it feels like to be raped, tied up, and left to die. We do not all know what it feels like to be so hungry that, suddenly, you're not. We do not all know what it feels like to want a child and not be able to have one. We do not all know what it feels like to be pregnant with a loved, but unprepared for, child. We do not all know what it feels like to be left outside, in the cold and the rain, offered Crack Cocaine and death. We do not all know but we are trying to.
We do, however, all require healthcare at some point and time in our lives. Regardless of what country we live in. Regardless of our age, our gender, our religion, or our nationality. Regardless of whether or not we are single or married. Regardless of our sexual orientation, we all require healthcare.
How many of you broke an arm or a leg, regardless of the reason, as a child? How many of you required stitches? How many of you think you may have died of Pneumonia if we - as a group - did not create an antidote? My great-grandfather died of Pneumonia. He died on one of the last wagon trains, heading to Texas. My grandmother, now in her late 70's, was forbidden to speak with him and watched as the members of the wagon train - and her mother and younger sister - were forced to burn his body and his belongings beside the road.
I have had Pneumonia. I was given antibiotics. I have had Bronchitis. I was given antibiotics.
What if I had not been able to afford them? What if I had been denied them?
This, you say, is not possible? Inadvertantly, it is.
To understand each other requires fairly constant communication. What happens in our relationships with each other, our family, our co-workers, our employers, and our friends when we fail to communicate? There is harm. Always, there is some form of damage. It is never any one person's fault. It simply is what it is.
Can we afford to handle our health, and the health of those we love, in the same manner? Can we afford a miscommunication between the medical establishment and ourselves? Can we afford a miscommunication between one medical establishment and another? I don't think so.
Please, let's start here. Healthcare is the caboose and we are the train. Can we afford to go off track?
Healthcare is universal.
Sign PetitionSign PetitionHow, therefore, can we reach our common goal? At the moment, we are all putting forth our ideas - vital ideas, life-changing ideas, WORLD-changing ideas - and find that we are all a bit overwhelmed ... that our work is never done ... that it sometimes feels as if we are standing in one spot and running about in circles.
First, we need to eliminate the problems that first led us to this point. These are the problems that initially created conflict for so many - that first made us stop and reflect in our tracks. Many of us are still pursuing these extreme issues, fortunately with friends (as opposed to when we first began speaking out).
One step at a time. We have to march together, one step at a time. I am reminded of the birthday parade Ecard that I sent to a fellow member/warrior today. In it, the snail never wavers but is quickly passed by the happy dog, the flowers, and even the butterfly (whom I truly expected would spin about in the air before my eyes on the screen as if it were on its own wind-magic roller coaster ride).
We could never be Natzi's, as we would never choose to revel in the same manner of dress, step, form of thought, and attitude. We are unique in our own uniqueness.
So what can we do?
We must concentrate on what is universal.
What is universal?
What affects us all? What do we all have in common?
We may be empathetic souls, but we do not all quite understand what it means to be physically beaten. We do not all quite know what it feels like to be raped, tied up, and left to die. We do not all know what it feels like to be so hungry that, suddenly, you're not. We do not all know what it feels like to want a child and not be able to have one. We do not all know what it feels like to be pregnant with a loved, but unprepared for, child. We do not all know what it feels like to be left outside, in the cold and the rain, offered Crack Cocaine and death. We do not all know but we are trying to.
We do, however, all require healthcare at some point and time in our lives. Regardless of what country we live in. Regardless of our age, our gender, our religion, or our nationality. Regardless of whether or not we are single or married. Regardless of our sexual orientation, we all require healthcare.
How many of you broke an arm or a leg, regardless of the reason, as a child? How many of you required stitches? How many of you think you may have died of Pneumonia if we - as a group - did not create an antidote? My great-grandfather died of Pneumonia. He died on one of the last wagon trains, heading to Texas. My grandmother, now in her late 70's, was forbidden to speak with him and watched as the members of the wagon train - and her mother and younger sister - were forced to burn his body and his belongings beside the road.
I have had Pneumonia. I was given antibiotics. I have had Bronchitis. I was given antibiotics.
What if I had not been able to afford them? What if I had been denied them?
This, you say, is not possible? Inadvertantly, it is.
To understand each other requires fairly constant communication. What happens in our relationships with each other, our family, our co-workers, our employers, and our friends when we fail to communicate? There is harm. Always, there is some form of damage. It is never any one person's fault. It simply is what it is.
Can we afford to handle our health, and the health of those we love, in the same manner? Can we afford a miscommunication between the medical establishment and ourselves? Can we afford a miscommunication between one medical establishment and another? I don't think so.
Please, let's start here. Healthcare is the caboose and we are the train. Can we afford to go off track?
Healthcare is universal.
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