By Ahmed Kutty, M.D.
Kearney (Neb.) Hub, Letters, Aug. 24, 2012
On Aug. 15 at the dedication of the new west wing and the Cope Heart Center at Good Samaritan Hospital, Bishop William Dendinger of Grand Island paid tribute to the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, who held a strong belief that the sacred dimension of the healing professions was just as vital as its scientific foundations.
In November 1996, the cardinal passed away after battling advanced pancreatic cancer, which brought him into direct and personal experience of pain and suffering. While very satisfied with the care he received at Chicagoās Loyola University MedCenter, Bernardin spoke out with anguish and passion regarding the plight of 45 million fellow Americans who were uninsured and often did not receive needed and timely medical care simply because the cost of coverage was unaffordable.
The Affordable Care Act of 2009 (Obamacare), while addressing some of the major flaws in our current dysfunctional system, has a long road to travel before a publicly funded health care financing mechanism is in place, providing necessary, appropriate and evidence-based medical care, both preventive and curative, to all citizens of this country. Achieving universal Medicare (Improved Medicare for All) will take a sustained, hard and bitter fight before the powers that be will concede it.
If we, the people, carry on the struggle for the cause that was very dear to his heart, the cardinal could not have wished for a worthier tribute.
Dr. Ahmed Kutty is a retired Kearney physician.