Michael Moore's latest flick has finally hit the nail on the head. The release of Sicko in the American theatres has heaped up a controversy. Released on 29th June 2007, this documentary film not only investigates the US healthcare system but also point out numerous loopholes associated with it. These loopholes have been featured as those US health insurance companies that function at the cost of the lives of its citizens. Christened as a wickedly funny satire by many, Sicko pungently reveals the inadequacies of the American healthcare system. Its narrative is infused with instances of the inhuman behavior of multiple health insurance companies who have been responsible for the death of numerous patients. The irony lies in the fact that these companies reward those employees who have helped to negate company expenditure by denying maximum number of health coverage requests. One such memorable piece recounted in the movie is that of Linda Peeno, who denied a life-saving operation to a man. Her decision was held in high esteem as she saved half a million dollars her company had to incur. The shocking realities do not end here. The movie presents paraphernalia of woes caused due to the sucking policies of the American healthcare system. The exorbitant cost of American drugs is no news. But its adverse consequences on the commoners have been portrayed movingly. Frank, an elderly man, works at Pathmark to pay for his medicine. Next, we come across a married couple, who was forced to move in with their daughter because the father had three heart attacks, and the mother suffered serious problems as well. Moore almost moves the audience to tears when he projects the case Rick who accidentally chopped off the tops of his middle and ring fingers. Disclosing his inability to pay for both the operations, the hospital offered him a choice of reattaching his middle finger at 60,000$ or his ring finger at 12,000$. A romantic to the core, Rick chose his ring finger to be reattached for a bargain price of 12 grand. All these instances are tragic indeed, but the interview with Becky, a health insurance worker, is a haunting one. She breaks down while recounting the experience of her grueling job. It is through her that Moore reveals how the American healthcare system not only leaves out 50 million uninsured citizens but also negates aid to the 250 million insured Americans. As Moore himself testifies, "This is not a broken system, this is a sick system", and Sicko presents a statement to Moore's vision. This brilliantly directed film does well to make a comparison between the US healthcare system and the healthcare policies of such nations as France, Cuba, England, and Canada. The scene where Moore strolls around the streets of France with a doctor attending on house calls, presents a stark contrast to the inhospitable, rather hostile American healthcare system. The movie ends with Moore taking a group of 9/11 victims to Cuba, leaving a question unanswered: "Is it so hellish to live in America?" The answer, most certainly, lies with the people; but the movie, too, obliquely points to a solution: medical tourism. The new mantra of medical tourism has been attracting a lot of American patients to look for healthcare and medical facilities outside the US. So, if Sicko's reality bites, there is medical tourism to offer you a healing treatment!
Suzanne Macguire is an Internet marketing professional with expertise in content development and technical writing in a variety of industries.
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