Economic Inequality Kills
Given that people in the U.S. spend more money on health care than the rest of the world combined, then logic would dictate that we have the best health outcomes. Well, we don’t. Why? Increasing evidence from epidemiologists— the scientists who study the health of populations — indicates that everything from life expectancy to infant mortality to obesity, can be linked to the level of economic inequality within a given population. Almost a quarter of U.S. families live in poverty, the highest of all rich nations. Poor health and poverty go hand-in-hand. Checkups are deferred. Pain is endured. People engage in wishful thinking, i.e., maybe that numbness in my foot will just go away. Single payer universal health care would go a long way toward addressing our absurdly expensive health care system and reducing the number of unnecessary early deaths.
Speaker
Stephen Bezruchka
Dr. Stephen Bezruchka is on the faculty of the Department of Health Systems and Population Health at the University of Washington. He worked for many years as an emergency physician in Seattle. He worked in Nepal for more than a decade where he helped set up a community health project a week’s walk from the road. He also established a remote district hospital for training Nepali doctors whom he supervised. He is the author of Inequality Kills Us All: COVID-19’s Health Lessons for the World.
David Putnam –
A calm and deeply penetrating analysis of the situation that we’re living in.
Martha Jones –
Dr. B articulates the connections between those huge dots my mind has only been nibbling at around the edges! Thanks!
Linda N. Hollifield –
Heard this lecture on 7/21/19.
It is so nice to listen to someone tell it as it really is. Dr. Bezruchka makes the connections to the problems that face the people of the United States so clear. He has concrete ideas about how it can be better. Very upbeat and refreshing. Thank you
Erika Schulte Murphy –
I wish everyone would listen/read this lecture and think about it – it makes so much sense!
Havens Tipps (verified owner) –
An excellent review of important information.
Julia Heiman –
Important topic carefully considered with data and helpful to connect factors not typically considered. Excellent presentation.
James Lomax (verified owner) –
Clear presentation on causes not apparent to most people.
Diane Larocque –
Heard the lecture on 07/11/2019 on my local radio and I must say; “he is spot on”. The inequalities are mind boggling and truly pathetic. The U.S. “was” a great nation.. 65 years ago…
William Ross –
I listened with great interest. Dr. Bezruchka has the experience and knowledge to make a very strong case for changes that need to be made. The United States has been struggling more and more with problems that face every country, and we seem to be having more trouble dealing with these problems. It’s disturbing to say the least. He presents perhaps the most serious problems, and some possible solutions, in a very easy to understand way. Thank you.