HELP PLEASE. NEED HERNIA OPERATION NO INSURANCE

[Th1onein]

I have a friend, in Galveston County, Texas, who is in a lot of pain. He has a hernia the size of a large cucumber. He's been to the free clinics and they tell him, "Yep, you've got a hernia." and send him home. He has no health insurance and he is in an awful lot of pain. They tell him they can't help him because they are helping the Katrina victims. This man is throwing up everything that he eats and he is absolutely miserable. He needs a hernia operation. Can anyone tell me where to go to for help for him?

[kwassa]

1. It doesn't make any sense that the clinics can't help him

or refer him to a county hospital that can.

"can't help him because they are helping Katrina victims" doesn't make sense, and is not a medical policy. Need is need.

What is the public hospital in this county? He should go to the emergency room there.

[Bunny]

5. I don't get that "Katrina victims" thing either. I thought that ER services

and treatment were based on triage, where those who have the most severe medical needs go first, regardless of their status as a hurricane survivor or not. That doesn't sound right. Maybe the guy with the hernia was told this as an excuse for why he was kicked out of the ER, but it doesn't make any sense medically.

[yellowcanine]

2. Sounds as if it might be strangulated. That's bad. He may need emergency surgery.

[LostinVA]

3. A county/public hospital has to help him

[Giant Robot]

4. I have no idea what the resources are down in Texas

But it looks like Galveston has 211 service. 211 is the set aside number, like 911, for information and referral, mainly in the human services. Your friend could call 211 and see what information they can give him about his rights and possible resources. In the area of Michigan I am in, for example, there is a program set up for people who are uninsured and needing medical help, a collection of doctors who volunteer their services or work on the cheap. I hope something like this exists for your friend, because hernias are not fun.