Michael Moore’s “Sicko” promises to spark discussion at Her Active Life

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Michael Moore’s “Sicko” promises to spark discussion

Posted May 23, 2007 at 04:30 PM by Courtney Albon

Section: Her Health, Her News, Special Features

Michael Moore has called his most recent documentary, “Sicko”, a call to action for the American people to push for changes within the U.S. healthcare industry. As Moore’s previous films “Fahrenheit 911” and “Bowling for Columbine” have made his name synonymous with controversy, “Sicko” promises to add some contentious sparks to conversations about the U.S. healthcare system.

The film highlights stories of individuals who have fallen through the cracks of what Moore and many other Americans believe to be a system far from solid. One story is that of a couple forced to move in with their daughter after emptying their funds on medical expenses while another tells of a young girl whose life could have been saved had she not been denied access to medical care at a general hospital.

Approximately 50 million Americans are currently not covered by health insurance, Moore says, while many of those insured face the obstacle of consistently rising costs. The U.S. spends more money on healthcare than any other country but, according to Moore, provides the poorest level of treatment in the western world. He claims that many of these problems stem from an ideology that emphasizes profit while neglecting those in need.

“I’m trying to explore bigger ideas and bigger issues, and in this case the bigger issue in this film is who are we as a people?” Moore said.

Moore explores this question by contrasting healthcare in the U.S. with that of other countries such as Britain and even Cuba. In one especially controversial scene, he takes a group of eight individuals seeking healthcare, including three with illnesses stemming from the 9/11 attacks, to Cuba where they receive inexpensive treatment after being denied treatment in the U.S. Moore uses this scene to argue that prisoners at Guantanamo Bay receive better treatment than citizens of the U.S.

“Here the detainees were getting colonoscopies and nutrition counseling and these people at home were suffering. I said, ‘We gotta go and see if we can get these people the same treatment the government gives al-Qaida.’ It seemed the only fair thing to do,” Moore said.

Moore faces possible fines and even imprisonment for his violation of the U.S. trade embargo.

“I believe that the decision to conduct this investigation represents the latest example of the Bush Administration abusing the federal government for raw, crass, political purposes,” Moore said in an open letter to the U.S. Treasury Department.

The film’s praise of foreign healthcare, however, overlooks flaws with healthcare in countries such as France whose universal healthcare system has led to high unemployment rates, with nearly 10 percent of French workers unemployed.

His response when presented with such concerns is that it is not his responsibility to solve the problems of other countries.
“Sicko”, set to be released in the U.S. on June 29, has been a hit at the Cannes film festival in France.

“It is my profound hope,” Moore said, “that people will listen this time, with this film, because I don’t want to wait 10 or 20 years before we have universal health coverage in America.”

Photo: www.michaelmoore.com

Sources:
Collett-White, Mike. ”Moore film attacks US health care.” Reuters.
Associated Press. ”Michael Moore Screens New Documentary.” CBS News.
Lawless, Jill. “’Sicko’ spawns Moore fever in Cannes.” Fox News.
”Michael Moore Responds to Treasury Secretary’s Investigation Threat.” Alternet.org