Maureen Kurtek
Wednesday, July 8 2009
This is a powerful video from HCAN and Campaign for America’s Future. It follows a woman named Maureen Kurtak as she prepares for the HCAN rally and what follows.
Maureen Kurtek Goes to Washington from AmericasFuture on Vimeo.
The video is about 10 minutes long. Maureen’s speaking time in front of the rally is about 1 minute of that – about 1 minute of rally that went on for almost an hour and a half. I remember hearing Maureen speak, and thinking, “Wow, I would kind of like to hear more from her.” But she was just one of several patients that spoke – briefly – about their stories.
Edie Falco got a lot more time to speak. Union leaders got more time. The president of National Physicians Alliance got more time. Politicians got more time. And in between, as filler, there were patients with their heart-rending, gut-wrenching, horrifying stories.
I have no problem with organizations using stories like Maureen’s. Stories like hers show the naked truth of our health care system, and why reform is so urgently and completely necessary. I do have a problem with how these stories are used. Too often, they verge on being – or, in fact, are – exploitative and patronizing to sick people.
Patients like Maureen should have more ownership of this debate, more time, more voice. I would have liked to hear Maureen, or someone like her, speak a little more. A lot more. I’m glad they put out this video, but I can’t help feeling this is what was missing from the rally in the first place.
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