During my medical training, a number of instances have tested my psyche. I’ve seen death and delivered unfortunate news more times than I’d care to. None of these experiences have troubled me more than a patient I recently cared for.
Mr. A had chronic myeloid leukemia, a malignancy that can be controlled with oral medication. However, Mr. A couldn’t afford his medication as of May. He recently began to feel ill, prompting him to hitchhike to a Salt Lake City emergency department from rural Utah. His leukemia had progressed to the point of compromising his lung and kidney function. I watched him fight for every breath until he died shortly after I met him.
Mr. A’s undignified death was unnecessary. It could have been avoided with access to life-saving medication. Utah Medicaid expansion would prevent such unnecessary outcomes for the most vulnerable individuals in our community.
Utah lawmakers are making cuts to the voter approved Medicaid expansion due to a projected budget deficit of $10.4 million. They're also proposing a $225 million tax cut. They have the money, just not the will.
I plead with Utah lawmakers to listen to its voters and pass a full Medicaid expansion.
Jonathan Downie, Salt Lake City
