Gauge
Posts: 5689
Joined: 6/17/2005
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quote:
I spoke on this because I have worked in the dental field and can tell you that more people than you realize, do not have dental insurance. Alot of people who have plans that cover medical and hospitalization, do not have dental, as alot of people do not have eye care coverage either. As someone who has worked for several dentists, I have not known one, nor do I know OF one who would turn away someone who had to pay for their cleanings in installments, nevermind turn away a child with an infectious tooth that needs pulling.
This takes into account that they can actually afford installment payments. I am not sure that you are hearing what it is I am saying, the subject is impoverished families without access to proper/sufficient medical care.
quote:
The article states that the children never received any dental care. In my opinion, that falls on the mother or parents. It is my guess, that since the other child had several teeth that needed care, proper dental hygiene isn't even practiced in the home. Though Im not there, so I can't say. Kids need regular cleanings and flouride treatments, and this child could have had that if his mother had taken him to a dentist, or even, as I mentioned in my post a dental training facility. Where there is a will there is a way. I know that sounds harsh, but if the parents cannot afford dental cleanings for their children or even afford a routine extraction, they should cut back some where else, take another job or do whatever needs doing. As i said, we are not talking about thousands of dollars here.
The article states that the children never received routine dental care, it never said that they never received any care at all. Quite possibly proper oral hygiene was not practiced within the home and yes, that I can lay at the feet of the parents.
How many people actually know about these dental training facilities? Is it common knowledge? I had heard about something like this before but I was not aware that it was accessible for anyone. And if there was a facility like this, why was this woman not pointed in that direction? This is where the problems that I have with the system begin to surface.
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What you are basically saying is that the parents (or mother) was helpless to save her child because of the state of our health insurance coverage issues. Do you understand the magnitude of that statement? We aren't talking about being able to afford state of the art cancer treatment. We're talking about a tooth for god's sake. Do you think any parent is that helpless to keep their kid from dying because they dont have 100 bucks? I would knock on the door of every dentist until I found one willing to pull my kids tooth.
If you go back and refer to the article again, I must point out to you that this woman basically was struggling for quite some time with poverty to the point of being homeless. Now, you ask me if any parent is that helpless that they cannot afford $100 and my answer is a simple, yes. I must ask you, have you ever been homeless? Do you even have the slightest concept of the psychological impact that it has on someone? Are you aware that being poor means that money isn't readily available from some source and can be pulled from that source to fund something else? These are people with nothing in the form of disposable income whatsoever. Is the situation a travesty? Absolutely.
quote:
I understand your outrage about the lack of medical health coverage and I understand the battle that alot of people are up against, but
you can't seriously hold anyone other than the parents responsible for this boy's lack of dental care. What you're saying is that the parents had NO choice but to let their kid die.
I can think off the top of my head of at least 3 different ways (none of which include whoring on a street corner) to go out today and make 100 bucks if life itself depended on it. Come on Gauge! This isnt the right case to support your position.
Please point to me where it was that I said that the parents had no choice but to let their child die. If routine care was available to her and she did not take advantage of it then I am right in line with you and would be outraged at everyone involved, but (according to the article) there were severe circumstances that either prevented this from happening or it just wasn't accessible period.
There is a fine line that I dance here because, unlike some people, I can actually see the opposite side of the argument... and some of it has merit but not all of it. When I asked you if you had ever been homeless... I mean out on the street, starving kind of homeless. If you haven't then you do not understand how someone feels in those circumstances. I do understand because I have been there and I was defeated, beat down and so depressed that my life was basically worthless and it was everything I could muster within myself just to face the day, let alone buck heads with a system that is grossly inadequate. I can tell you that until I began to get my life back I had no idea about most social services that were available to me. Situations of extreme poverty can break one's spirit. No, I am not excusing what happened to this boy, I am trying to enlighten people to the real difficulties that poor people face each and every day.
This case is a fine example of what is wrong with the system. It is also a tragic reminder that not everyone has the wherewithal to fight tirelessly for their children. While some might take that as being negligent, I personally understand the psychological nuances that some might not be able to grasp. I have been there... it isn't pretty or fun.
_____________________________
"For there is no folly of the beast of the earth which is not infinitely outdone by the madness of men." Herman Melville - Moby Dick
I'm wearing my chicken suit and humming La Marseillaise.
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RE: Maryland boy dies from toothache - 
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