Most compelling reason to date for health care reform

I just finished an office conference with a constituent that wants to carry the banner for healthcare reform. He's a working man, has no health insurance, and has been the primary breadwinner for his wife and son. His wife, 40 years old, went in to a rural ER with complaints of dehydration and a headache. She was given a shot for the headache and sent home with instructions to drink Gatorade. She was also told that it appears that something is attacking her nervous system such as a brain tumor or something. She was not referred to a larger hospital because "you know how they are about being referred patients with no insurance." She died the next day of a ruptured brain tumor. Best healthcare system in the world? Why don't you ask this family about that. They can't even afford to pay the bill from the ER that night and are avoiding calls from collectors.

Was malpractice a contributing factor? Could her life have been saved? I'm sure there's plenty of blame to go around in this particular instance, but if the family files suit, then it just perpetuates the belief that lawyers are the cause of the high cost of insurance.

Maybe government-run, socialized medicine is not the answer -- maybe a public option isn't even the answer -- but dammit, I'm tired of seeing families like this in my office. I don't want to see my kids and grandkids strapped with a national debt that can never be paid, but taking care of hardworking Americans ought to be at the top of our list. Health care is not a right, but living in the greatest country in the world ought to have its benefits, and access to adequate medical care ought to be one of them.