Sicko Documentary Summary

In The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care (2009), the author of the book, T.R. Reid travels to industrialized democracies to discuss the different methods of health care delivery system used in these developed countries and compare them to the health care system of the United States. According to T.R. Reid (2009), “the thesis of this book is that we can find cost-effective ways to cover every American by borrowing ideas from foreign models of health care” (Reid, 2009, p. 11). This thesis illustrates that the American health care system can manage health care costs effectively and provide care to all by using some of the successful health care delivery models of foreign nations. The purpose of this book analysis is to discuss the four different health care models presented in this book and provide my prioritization or ranking of these models. This analysis also aims to investigate a case known as the Nikki White case described in this book and discuss the lessons learned from it. Furthermore, this analysis is going to provide my remarks on the, “An Apple a Day” comment relative to the Public Health Model. Lastly, in this book analysis, I will share my conclusion on the basic premise of the book along with my take away messages that I will remember into my future as a Public Health professional.

In the contemporary world, America is one of the greatest countries. From the polio vaccine to Coca Cola, United States is mother to many inventions. As Americans, we enjoy higher quality living standards than most other parts of the world. This pleasure-oriented lifestyle makes a lot of other nations envious of us. And with the envy comes antipathy. For the time it has existed, the American healthcare system has been a subject of scrutiny and debate.

One of the most controversial topics, not just in the United States but all around the world, is the topic of healthcare. How much should the government contribute? Should healthcare be free and open to all? In his book, The healing of America, T.R. Reid goes on a quest in the hopes of finding a solution to his injured shoulder. Reid travels the world hearing all the different perspectives the doctors have concerning his shoulder. The main goal is to find the best healthcare system in the world by observing countries similar to the United States and ranking how their healthcare system ranks and differs to the United States.

In The Healing of America: A Global Quest for Better, Cheaper, and Fairer Health Care, T.R. Reid, a Washington Post reporter and NPR commentator, compares the United States’ health care system to the systems of other industrialized democracies. In this journey, he analyzes costs, quality, and overall functioning of the different systems. Through his first hand experiences around the globe, Reid illustrates a variety of systems, emphasizing the changes America needs.

In the video, Sick Around the World, we are able to speculate five different countries and what health care systems they have implemented. Some of these systems are great for their country and some not so much. The first country we visited was Great Britain, which has a government-run national health care system. There are no insurance premiums, no co-pay and doctors are considered to be government employees as well as hospitals are run by the government. Due to the government running Great Britain’s health care system the tax revenue are much higher than that of the U.S., in addition, since the whole country does have this national health care system, the wait time to be seen is much longer of that than the United States.

“Sicko” is a documentary produced by Michael Moore that focuses on health care in America.The documentary provides an in depth understanding and analysis of the unceasing health care problems in America. Most of these problems result from the corruption present in the American health insurance industry. The message that Michael Moore is trying to get across to his audience is that of the immortality within the American health care system. Michael Moore is able to get his message across to the public by incorporating the three rhetoric techniques of logos, pathos, and ethos. He uses logos by comparing America’s health insurance to those of other countries,

It also ranks 37th out of the world’s 191 countries in overall health care efficiency according to the World Health Organization. Although this ranking may appear decent at first glance, it becomes apparent that the current system is broken given the context that the “U.S. [spends] more per person on health care than 12 other high-income nations” (The Commonwealth Fund). These twelve countries include Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

In conclusion, the film “Sick around the World,” displayed how behind the United States healthcare system really is. I am excited for the new innovations to take place and I know that once the reform actually takes place many more will follow. I believe the United States will end up copying

The documentary Escape Fire: The Fight to Rescue American Healthcare explains the numerous controversies in our healthcare system and where the system is going if it follows the same footsteps it has been taking for the past decade. Throughout the documentary there are many hosts in which they all give their personal insight on the American Healthcare System and how the system is failing and on the verge to a catastrophic breakdown. All of the hosts gathered their data through personal research that they did on the system and from working in their perspective fields over the years and just seeing the trends the healthcare system is taking and going towards.

Imagine a nation where one did not have to worry about deductibles, high monthly insurance rates, and being denied health care. Is this possible? Can the United States (U.S.) have this or is such a nation fiction? Michael Moore, known documentary filmmaker, set out on a mission. This mission was featured in his documentary, Sicko. The mission consisted of multiple rhetorical strategies to disclose the positive and negative effects of socialized health care. The great thing about this topic is that it’s applicable to a wide audience. From teenagers just starting to get health insurance, to people midway through their life that may have been burned by the industry, to seniors that need to still work in their eighties to pay off their health care bills. Moore gives good insight to both sides of the argument, and allows the audience to examine all factors. Through many accounts of Moore’s credibility, emotional connections, and pure facts; the audience is strongly convinced that the U.S. should move to a socialized health care system.

All around the globe, in places including Britain, Canada, Cuba, France and many other countries the mere thought of pulling out a credit card and paying for health services in hospital seems ludicrous. This is because these countries all have free universal health care, meaning that the majority of health care cost are covered by the government. In other words it is free! However, this is not the case the United States of America, where healthcare is privately funded and covered by insurance companies. Michael Moore, in his documentary Sicko explores the flawed US health care system comparing it to countries with universal health care and resolves the current system is corrupt and full of injustices. Throughout the film interviews that the audience can empathize with are conducted making the viewer feel certain emotions leading them to believe that the American health insurance companies are full of is corruption. In addition, images of past events that viewers can resonate with stir up strong emotions and plant the seed of how flawed the health industry is. Furthermore, Moore literally casts himself as the lead character and is able to manipulate certain scenes in order to convey his message because he is able to guide the flow of the scene. By using several cinematic techniques such as good casting, relatable images and personable interviews Moore is able to construct his version of the American health industry, leading the viewer to believe

In this video the United States healthcare system is broken down and made transparent. The future, challenges and opportunities of achieving a new healthcare system that works is highlighter. It explains why the US is considered as a country with the best healthcare system, yet more than half of its citizens are unhealthy, there are no outcomes to match the claim of being the best.

In Sicko, Michael Moore offers a scathing critique of the American health care system. The American health care system is built on a profit-driven business model, rather than one that is based on caring, compassion, and humanitarian ideals. Even the best interests of public health are not being served by the American health care system. To emphasize his point, filmmaker Moore explores how other countries address healthcare. Using Canada, England, France, and Cuba as examples allows for a multifaceted view on healthcare. However, the United States differs significantly from each of these countries in terms of its political culture and climate. The political culture, political climate, and political norms of the United States preclude Americans from being able to adapt a system of universal health coverage. When Moore interviews the American expats in countries like France, he shows how a person can be American and still believe in a different form of political

America is a place where myriad of people desired to migrate and to live in as there are American Dream, same meaning as opportunity to endeavor after life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. This opportunity is social, economic and spiritual. However, the deteriorated political system makes American dream has the metamorphosis from opportunity to materialism. In some people’s mind, opportunities are not in America, but somewhere else. In documentary film “Sicko”, the director Michael Moore exposes the dysfunctional North American health care system, aim primarily at huge profits and not for their mission of saving lives. Further, he shows the corruption in the political system, with members of government and congress and the situation

In 2000, France is ranked first in the health care system throughout the world, while the United States of America (U.S) is ranked 37th (Sharipo, 2008). U.S currently spends around 8,233 dollars per person on health care (Kane, 2012). France spends on average 3300 dollars per person on health care (Sharipo, 2008). Nevertheless, the U.S still spends 17.6 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) goes to the health care system, while France spends 11.4 percent (Kane, 2012). If U.S spends 17.6 percent of the GDP on the health care system, they should have exceptional health care, however, statistical it is untrue. American’s believe that they do have the best health care in the world. However, surgery and hospital stay is more costly in America than other countries. Hospital stay in America is usually 18,000 dollars, while in other countries spends four to five thousands dollar less (Kane, 2012). In addition to hospital stays, the US spends 900 dollars per person on just administrative costs; in France administrative costs is merely 300 dollars (Kane, 2012)