In America????

[Catty1]

I would have to reread an earlier post, but I seem to recall that the mom had tried MANY MANY times to get to a dentist and been refused, and that emerg was a last resort.

Someone else raised a good point...why not give the boy antibiotics instead of aspirin?

Columbine - I like the kaBOOM idea! I hope they spread like crazy.

[Ceph]

I was just going to post something from a while back (I just got home after two days without my comp...)

The boy was treated at Children's Hospital....when an Ambulance takes you, you go to the Emergency room, and from theren they refer you to the next place if they see a problem....and most hospitals have dentists and/or dental clinices that I know of....clearly Children's does...and that would have most likley for their area been the hospital the Ambulance would have taken them too.

There are plenty of safe places in DC and PG county and MoCo to play....believe me...I grew up here....I came with my friends and hung around in DC till midnight (usually the mall) as a kid....it was never a problem...totolly safe....while there are some parts of the city that arent...its really easy and safe to jump on the metro or bus to go somewhere else.

oh, also, 4 hours is nothing in those hospitals - Washington Hospital Center, VA Hospital, Children's and NRH are all connected....and they all take in ALOT of people...I have seen people come into the eye clinic at WHC and wait well over that because such a large number of people come in...its what happens when you run low cost / free clinics.

[emily_the_spoiled]

In the Saturday Washington Post there was an article about this little boy. Both the federal and state governments are trying to commit more money for children like Deamonte.

Hopefully he did not die in vain

[Vio&Juni]

In Moldova, a few years ago, after 50-60 years of "free medicine", we introduced the medical insurance. At the moment, we pay 2.5 percent of our total wage (no mater how many hours you work) and the employer pays the same 2.5 percent (used to be 2% last year). I want to mention that this is a tax and you cannot chose not to pay it. Only retired (medical included), jobless and students get it for free - and it should stay so. It is rather difficult and and financially not worth it to register as a jobless person, so, you can also buy the insurance for an amount that is around 100$ per year - a lot in Moldova.

This mandatory insurance gives you the basic medical care and emergency services. I was very sceptical how this would work, but, although there are still a lot of problems with this new system, I think in nature it's fair. I'd rather contribute the two and a half percent of my wage, knowing that the poor people also contribute their share than just simply paying for them too.

[wombat2u2004]

In Moldova, a few years ago, after 50-60 years of "free medicine", we introduced the medical insurance. At the moment, we pay 2.5 percent of our total wage (no mater how many hours you work) and the employer pays the same 2.5 percent (used to be 2% last year). I want to mention that this is a tax and you cannot chose not to pay it. Only retired (medical included), jobless and students get it for free - and it should stay so. It is rather difficult and and financially not worth it to register as a jobless person, so, you can also buy the insurance for an amount that is around 100$ per year - a lot in Moldova.

This mandatory insurance gives you the basic medical care and emergency services. I was very sceptical how this would work, but, although there are still a lot of problems with this new system, I think in nature it's fair. I'd rather contribute the two and a half percent of my wage, knowing that the poor people also contribute their share than just simply paying for them too.

Our system here in Australia is the same, it's called Medicare.....it works fine.
We pay a small percentage in our taxes to, but if you want more higher services, such as private rooms in hospitals etc etc....then you can take out private insurance.....including a Medicare upgrade, but those extra premiums come out of your own pocket.
I think it's a good system, and it certainly works well......I think one of the main advantages of this scheme is that it keeps doctors honest.
Wombat