Life's loss

I sit here and listen to the background noise of news bulletins featuring the prominent visit by U.S president Barack Obama in the Middle East. The importance given to this news piece is obvious. He IS the man of the moment - drawing the typical response of media organisations.

Stop for a minute - another piece of heavy news is being featured - the mysterious disappearance of Air France AF 447 enroute to Paris from Rio de Janeiro. And while important - slightly less time spent giving thoughts and prayers to the lives lost in the tragedy and to those loved ones in grief.

Truly, which piece of news is more important?

I come to a point closer to home. During a midnight trip to the doctor's during a semi-emergency, bless the souls that came to my aid, we encountered this.

A group of youngsters came by to the clinic close to 1am - seeking help for their unconscious friend. The clinic turned them away.

Shocking?

The conversation that followed raised more than just eyebrows.

"What happened to the guy who was unconscious?" asked several concerned and conscious patients.

Nurse relayed then the group could not carry the unconscious person out of the car and therefore could not bring the person into the clinic.

Nurse continued to relay that the clinic did not have resuscitation machines to help the unconscious person.

(gasp)

Questions asked - why don't the clinic nurses and doctor go outside the building to give the potential patient the much needed aid.

This was the response - the doctor was not allowed to go out of the clinic - for fear he may be "kidnapped" (verbatim).

(gasps .... shudder)

At this point - the group of youngsters had already left - presumably to a hospital whom I prayed and hoped have medical staff with hearts and conscience to save a life.

Nurse continued to relay that should the unconscious pass away in the clinic - there are costs involved and the clinic would not be able to afford these "costs".

At this point - audience was left speechless.

Costs versus saving a life.

I prayed for the victims of AF 447 and for that man who was refused basic care.

I hope you did too.