This bothers me: there was a news story on last night about a 13-year-old with a tumor that goes through his nose and down his throat and might eventually go into his brain. The cost to remove it is $80,000…and the family isn’t eligible for aid because they’re illegal aliens.
One part of me is really sorry for them, but another part feels they shouldn’t be entitled to aid because they’re here illegally.
So, how should I feel?
The kid is 13. I very much doubt he had any say in the matter of becoming an illegal alien.
But his parents did and parents are ultimately responsible for their childrens’ welfare, no?
OTOH–geez, the poor kid! The tumor is very visible in one nostril and his nose is distorted…geez.
Where’s he from? Would THAT country give him aid?
Besides, there’s a foundation for every type of person in America. I’m sure somewhere along the way some illegal alien made it big and started a fund.
I also feel really bad for him, but my tax money already goes to so many other people (welfare) that I feel bad for… should I have to pay for everyone in the world with money problems?
I know that many hospitals will treat indigent illegal aliens, absorbing the cost through the exorbitant costs they charge the rest of us. Not that that’s a bad thing - children deserve treatment. It’s not the fault of the child their parents choose to come here. And it’s quite possible that the parents wouldn’t be able to get him appropriate treatment in their country of origin.
StG
Is there any way to know if the child was born in the United States? If that’s the case, then he is a natural born citizen and, essentially, privy to more rights than his parents.
If we can bring those Guatemalan conjoined twins up here for their separation surgery that costs well into the 6-digit range, then finding a way to spend $80k on a natural born citizen (if he is that) should only be fair and right.
But I also understand and agree that illegal immigration status should have some bearing on the benefits. You know down here in So. Cal. “illegal alien/illegal immigrant” is becoming un-PC? The term I hear now is “undocumented immigrants.”
Well, that’s the correct legal term for them, Ruffian.
Squish, my point was that to deny him medical treatment based solely on his immigration status would be to punish him - possibly fatally - for the “sins” of his parents. That’s inhumane, no matter how you slice it.
The US is a morally bankrupt country. In any civilized country,it would be considered imoral to withhold medical care from anyone.
Yeah, I’m thinking that he should get the operation here, no matter what. After all, if there’s a distinct possibility that it may go into his brain, that sounds like a life-or-death situation to me.
No, he wasn’t born here or he’d automatically be a citizen and eligible for AHCCCS (Arizona’s version of Medicaid). The family’s from Mexico; if they go back there to get medical care for him, they probably won’t be able to get back–especially since their names have been made public by the TV station.
galen, I agree. There’s not even a charity hospital here in Phoenix like there is in many major cities.