UNIT 9: TRAVELING AND CULTURE
My name‿ is‿ Ana. I travelled‿ abroad for‿ an‿ operation two years‿ ago,│ and‿ I have│ since become sceptical‿ of‿ a debate conducted‿ almost‿ exclusively in terms‿ of price.
The economics‿ are genuine. The same procedure cos(t) me four thousan(d) dollars‿ abroad│ an(d) nothing‿ at home,│ excep(t) that the wait was nine months during│ which‿ I could neither work│ nor drive. Cross-border treatment‿ is‿ expanding,│ an(d) some clinics‿ are‿ excellent,│ with‿ accreditation‿ and‿ aftercare that‿ exceeded my expectations. The risks,│ however,│ are‿ unevenly distributed:│ if‿ a complication‿ arises,│ your liability is‿ unclear,│ your‿ insurer may refuse‿ a claim registered‿ abroad,│ an(d) the surgeon│ who treats you afterwards did not perform the operation‿ an(d) has no obligation to be diplomatic‿ about‿ it.
What‿ I objec(t) to is the framing. Medical tourism‿ is presented‿ as consumer choice│ when‿ it‿ is‿ in fact‿ a symptom‿ of rationing,│ and‿ if public systems were‿ adequately funded most‿ of‿ us would never travel. I would do it‿ again for‿ an‿ elective procedure‿ I could plan,│ an(d) never‿ in‿ an‿ emergency. The decisive factor‿ is not the clinic,│ the hotel‿ or the price;│ it‿ is│ whether the aftercare has been‿ arranged│ before the passport,│ and‿ in my case‿ it had been.