Health Care and Age Discrimination
By Four Walls
@FourWalls (62145)
United States
March 17, 2017 8:01pm CST
Sorry I'm not very active tonight. My dad spent the day in the ER of the hospital. And I am furious.
Dad's 86 years old. He had a heart valve replacement about eight years ago. He also suffers from emphysema from decades of smoking. So, today, he goes to the emergency room and is diagnosed with pneumonia.
And they send him home.
Why? Because he cannot lie flat in order for them to do an MRI to check his heart valve. Therefore, he has to wait until next month to see his doctor.
If my dad were 56 instead of 86 I guaran-dang-tee you they'd find a way to get him on that MRI machine. (Dad has a huge hernia...seriously, he looks like he swallowed a basketball.)
I went through this late last year with my 89-year-old aunt. I called her doctor to beg and plead for her to be checked for colon cancer (she had diarrhea for months) and for a psychologist to talk to her about depression. Her doctor dismissed my concerns with, "She is 89."
Fine, then stop taking her money because it belongs to an 89-year-old.
Yes, I truly believe there is age discrimination in our healthcare system. This is one of the ugly side effects of a bloated government and a greedy industry being in bed together. It "costs more" to deal with older people? Then just ignore them. They're gonna die soon anyway, right?
Jerks. It's not their loved ones being treated that way.
Sorry.
10 people like this
11 responses
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
18 Mar 17
In the past I worked in a hospital...a few actually.
If someone had pneumonia I don't see why they'd be sent home as it needs to be treated
No comment on the US system as a whole just on this issue I'd say something is wrong.
did he have antibiotics or anything before he was sent home?
And why isn't the hernia being dealt with?
No comment on the US system as a whole just on this issue I'd say something is wrong.
did he have antibiotics or anything before he was sent home?
And why isn't the hernia being dealt with?4 people like this
@FourWalls (62145)
• United States
18 Mar 17
Yes, they gave him antibiotics (which isn't going to do diddly poo if he has viral pneumonia).
As for the hernia, it was "dealt with," which is why he looks like he's pregnant now. The repair surgery went wrong, and his reaction to the mesh implant nearly killed him (that also happened to my putting coach, who is significantly younger than my dad!). Given all of the problems he endured with the original hernia surgery and the snafus, he decided to live with the "basketball belly."
3 people like this
@FourWalls (62145)
• United States
18 Mar 17
@Mike197602 -- he sleeps in a recliner. I don't know how long it's been since he slept in a bed.
Thank you so much for your concern and insight.
1 person likes this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
18 Mar 17
@FourWalls that can happen with hernias.
The bowel goes through the muscle and they go in and sew a mesh behind the muscle to keep the bowel in.
Sometimes the mesh plate isn't big enough so the bowel pops out again...or mybe a reaction to the mesh??
I don't know as it was years ago when I worked in healthcare so I'm way behind the times.
Purely from my limited experience I'd say to your dad don't sleep flat...try to keep the chest above the legs whilst in bed as that helps.
2 people like this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
18 Mar 17
That is something I have heard of as well and I do believe it happens and is sad. They may live to be 100 if doctors treat them with the care they need and deserve. Just because they are old doesn't mean they should be shrugged off and left to die. I am angry reading this post about what is going on with your father! Pneumonia cannot be left for a month he needs to be treated now.
4 people like this
@Mike197602 (15487)
• United Kingdom
18 Mar 17
my thoughts exactly...pneumonia kills people it needs to be fixed fast especially in the old/young/infirm.
3 people like this
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
18 Mar 17
I have seen this too, BUT they will suck all their insurance dry then turn a blind eye.
1 person likes this
@Brittnyrose (1445)
• Aberdeen, North Carolina
18 Mar 17
Hope everything turns out good for you..and people should care a little .ore rather its there family or not.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Mar 17
No, it isn't. I had pneumonia and my doctor just told me to sleep setting up. What could they do for him if he stayed at the hospital?. Keep him monitored? Was that your concern? My pneumonia lasted about a month. I was out of work. There are many kinds of pneumonia too. I hope he is alright. You've really had some negative experiences. Sounds like these doctors aren't very caring. Some shouldn't be in the medicine field. Makes me angry.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
18 Mar 17
Seniors have no place in society. Sad but true.
1 person likes this
@Shavkat (137215)
• Philippines
18 Mar 17
I am not sure why your dad was sent home. His condition needed to be taking care of. Pneumonia is a serious medical condition and MRI should be administered if it is needed. Some doctors are greedy in terms of giving their services. That's the sad fact. I had worked in the hospital and can't tolerate the practice in treating their patients who are really in need.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Mar 17
I believe there is age discrimination everywhere period.
1 person likes this
