In the United States, health providers that belong to the state's medical program commit themselves to provide their patients with the most appropriate, fine and responsible attentions and treatments. Unfortunately, this is not what happens most of the time. Many reports of abuse and frauds have been recently received. It is quite easy to affirm there is more fraud in the health care industry than in any other one.
According to some studies run by the United States General Accounting Office, more than 43 percent of American citizens over 65 years old will reside in nursing homes. At the same time, the United States Congress Committee on Government Reform reported that only 18 of the 288 nursing homes from San Francisco were under legal statutes and that all 27 of the nursing homes from Santa Barbara had violated federal health and standards.
Sadly, the numbers above mentioned are just a small proof of the innumerable amount of injustices the elders must go through when staying in nursing homes. Documents show that among the wide list of abuses committed against elders in nurse homes, dehydration, malnutrition, sexual abuses and bedsores are the most common incidents discovered. Added to it, providers and distributors of medicines have agreed on corrupt deals with the administrators of nursing homes to charge and bill for equipments and products that were not delivered or ordered. Most people working at these places do not fulfill all the requirements expected from health assistants. Therefore, a poor assistance is supplied to the patients. Also, irresponsible doctors rely on the fact that most patients' relatives are not aware of their illnesses, reason why doctors allow themselves to order unnecessary lab tests, and uncertified assistants to provide medication.
These injustices and abuses must be stopped at once. Therefore, it is our duty as citizens to denounce any anomalous situation that we have knowledge of. Moreover, if we have any relative in a nursing home, let's pay attention and let's bring him/her the real love and attention any human being deserves.