'How can we stay without working?' a sick child's father asks
By The Associated Press
Ten months ago, 11-year-old Pierre Habib was a healthy Egyptian child, going to school and playing soccer in Cairo's fields. Suddenly, for an unknown reason, his intestines twisted, making him violently ill.
After lifesaving surgery in Cairo, Pierre became reliant on IV feedings for survival. But his liver couldn't handle it and it became critical for Pierre to have an intestinal transplant.
"He became weaker and weaker and weaker. He couldn't walk from the bedroom to the living room. This distance made him tired," Pierre's father, Magdy Habib, recalled.
Desperate to get their son the proper medical care, the Habibs found an Egyptian businessman who donated $500,000. The Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh gave the family the other half of the money needed for the surgery. The money covers the 75 days before, during and after the operation.
Other than that, they have no money besides their meager savings and Magdy Habib's military pension, about $300 a month. They live in a church-donated apartment in Penn Hills, a suburb about 13 miles from Pittsburgh.
When they arrived in Pittsburgh in October on tourist visas, which don't allow them to find jobs to help make ends meet, they thought they would have to be here for just a few months. They now know they will have to remain for at least three years. The Habibs estimate they have enough money to last about five months.
Magdy Habib said he has contacted several attorneys, but none has offered any real solutions.
Valerie May, a Pittsburgh-based immigration lawyer, said the Habibs could start a business, but would need to have at least $100,000 to invest to ensure its viability. The alternative, also unlikely, is a research institute hiring Magdy Habib, who has a degree in business administration.
"How can we stay for three or four years without working?" Magdy Habib said, sweeping his arms across the living room to encompass his two sons and wife, all of whom he must support.
"We have to stay here. If we return to Egypt now, he will die ... we have no choice," he said, resting a hand on his son's skinny thigh.
posted
This is what pisses me off with our health system,for $500,000 cant our doctors do anything for this poor boy?Egyptians brag that we have the finest surgeons in the world and yet we cant assist a boy??I hope iam not talking out of turn but sometimes we are penny wise and pound foolish!!
posted
The Hippocratic Oath Original, translated from Greek.
“ I swear by Apollo, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath. To consider dear to me as my parents him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and if necessary to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.
To please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug nor give advice which may cause his death.
Nor will I give a woman a pessary to procure abortion.
But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.
I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.
In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.
All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.
If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot. ”
According to NOVA, the Oath is, as follows:
Hippocratic Oath -- Classical Version
“ I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfill according to my ability and judgment this oath and this covenant: To hold him who has taught me this art as equal to my parents and to live my life in partnership with him, and if he is in need of money to give him a share of mine, and to regard his offspring as equal to my brothers in male lineage and to teach them this art - if they desire to learn it - without fee and covenant; to give a share of precepts and oral instruction and all the other learning to my sons and to the sons of him who has instructed me and to pupils who have signed the covenant and have taken an oath according to the medical law, but no one else.
I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.
I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.
I will not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as are engaged in this work.
Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves.
What I may see or hear in the course of the treatment or even outside of the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will keep to myself, holding such things shameful to be spoken about.
If I fulfill this oath and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and art, being honored with fame among all men for all time to come; if I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot. ”
[edit] Modern relevance
Engraving of Hippocrates by Peter Paul Rubens, 1638.[1]Several parts of the oath have been removed or re-shaped over the years in various countries, schools, and societies as the social, religious, and political importance of medicine has changed. Most schools administer some form of oath, but the great majority no longer use the ancient version, which praised Greek deities, advocated teaching of men, and forbade general practitioners from surgery, abortion, and euthanasia. Also missing from the ancient Oath and from many modern versions are the complex ethical issues that face the modern physician.
Changed portions of the oath:
To teach medicine to the sons of my teacher. In the past, medical schools would give preferential consideration to the children of physicians. Today this would constitute discrimination and is therefore no longer official policy. All the same, legacy preferences still exist in some schools.
Not to teach medicine to other people. If taken literally, a physician who attempts to educate or make aware of treatment options, even informally, to anyone not enrolled in medical school would lose his or her license.
To practice and prescribe to the best of my ability for the good of my patients, and to try to avoid harming them. This beneficial intention is the purpose of the physician. However, this item is still invoked in the modern discussions of euthanasia.
Never to do deliberate harm to anyone for anyone else's interest. Physician organizations in the U.S. and most other countries have strongly denounced physician participation in legal executions. However, in a small number of nations, most notably the Netherlands, a doctor can preform euthanasia, by both his and the patient's consent.
Never to attempt to induce an abortion. This item is still invoked in the modern discussions of abortion.
To avoid violating the morals of my community. Many licensing agencies will revoke a physician's license for offending the morals of the community ("moral turpitude").
To avoid attempting to do things that other specialists can do better. The "stones" referred to are kidney stones or bladder stones, removal of which was judged too difficult for physicians, and therefore was left for surgeons (specialists). The value of specialization was recognized in that time. The range of knowledge and skills needed for the range of human problems has always made it impossible for any single physician to maintain expertise in all areas. This also highlights the different historical origins of the surgeon and the physician.
To keep the good of the patient as the highest priority. There may be other conflicting 'good purposes,' such as community welfare, conserving economic resources, supporting the criminal justice system, or simply making money for the physician or his employer that provide recurring challenges to physicians.
To avoid sexual relationships or other inappropriate entanglements with patients and families. The value of avoiding conflicts of interest isn't often questioned.
-------------------- “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there.” Posts: 7202 | From: EU | Registered: Nov 2006
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posted
i wish i could help these people out. why cant i be a millionaire?? if i won the lottery or became famous or whatever, i would spend probably most of it on other people. i know what its like to hurt and i hate to see others hurting.
Posts: 229 | From: florida | Registered: Apr 2007
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quote:Originally posted by MissJambi: i wish i could help these people out. why cant i be a millionaire?? if i won the lottery or became famous or whatever, i would spend probably most of it on other people. i know what its like to hurt and i hate to see others hurting.
Very nice reply, you have a big heart.
Posts: 30135 | From: The owner of this website killed ES....... | Registered: Feb 2004
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quote:Originally posted by maxman: This is what pisses me off with our health system,for $500,000 cant our doctors do anything for this poor boy?Egyptians brag that we have the finest surgeons in the world and yet we cant assist a boy??I hope iam not talking out of turn but sometimes we are penny wise and pound foolish!!
Well i think the point was.. YES they have all the money for his medical expenses.. BUT while he is receiving his treatment they gotta eat too!!! But cause of their visa they can not get a work permit.
Posts: 431 | From: beantown | Registered: Nov 2006
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posted
If the church has provided a house for them to stay in, surely they wouldn't be seeing them starving. Although i agree the state should be doing something, but i am always warey of what i read in the press.
Posts: 83 | From: uk | Registered: Jun 2007
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posted
Why everyone here feels sorry for the family? Does the child needs alls his family member to be with him in USA? he might need one person only and in this case might be the mother .. he does not need his father to be there ... his father can stay in Egypt and look for an extra work there beside his pension and send th emoney to USA.. from the names I can tell they are Christian family and as most of the business in Egypt owned by Christian familes so it is very easy for him to get a job in Egypt ... Why some of you blame the system !!! it is clear that the father and family are using the sick boy as an execuse to stay in USA ,,, please be practical... the money that have for 3 months for the whole family can enough for 2 people only for 6 months or more ,, and at same time the father can work in Egypt and send more money ,, or at least it will be easier for him to sort some extra help as he manged to get hlaf a million dollar from one business man only ( and Iam sure he is a christian business man as well) I am not aganist any helo from christians to christians,, but what i am saying that most of the rich business men in Egypt are Christian and they well known to hel other Christians...so he should not have any problems if he stays in Egypt... I got another question,, if the family were Muslim ,, would they be lucky to have a free house/accomodation from a US church...I doubt it... and the funny thing USA still accusing Egypt of religion descrimination
Posts: 1373 | From: London | Registered: Mar 2004
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quote:Originally posted by south_london_male: Why everyone here feels sorry for the family? Does the child needs alls his family member to be with him in USA? he might need one person only and in this case might be the mother .. he does not need his father to be there ... his father can stay in Egypt and look for an extra work there beside his pension and send th emoney to USA.. from the names I can tell they are Christian family and as most of the business in Egypt owned by Christian familes so it is very easy for him to get a job in Egypt ... Why some of you blame the system !!! it is clear that the father and family are using the sick boy as an execuse to stay in USA ,,, please be practical... the money that have for 3 months for the whole family can enough for 2 people only for 6 months or more ,, and at same time the father can work in Egypt and send more money ,, or at least it will be easier for him to sort some extra help as he manged to get hlaf a million dollar from one business man only ( and Iam sure he is a christian business man as well) I am not aganist any helo from christians to christians,, but what i am saying that most of the rich business men in Egypt are Christian and they well known to hel other Christians...so he should not have any problems if he stays in Egypt... I got another question,, if the family were Muslim ,, would they be lucky to have a free house/accomodation from a US church...I doubt it... and the funny thing USA still accusing Egypt of religion descrimination
Wow you are hard, seperate a husband from a wife a child from its mother so the husband and one son can go back. She doesn't get to see her other child or hisband for 3 years!!!
Why not be a bit more pragmatic and let them have a temporary work permit, renewable each year, until the kid is well.
Posts: 2791 | From: www.flatsinluxor.co.uk, Luxor, Egypt | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
There are indeed very rich Christian Egyptian families, as there are also very poor ones! The father has a militairy pension, he certainly doesn`t look poor, (there is a pic online)but on the other hand, half a million is rather to much to have in a saving-account for most of us. The opinion of SLM may sound hard, but don`t forget life is hard to many Egyptians, so that makes the opinion! I know people who didn`t see his family for 7 years! And all for the sake of money...
-------------------- “Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I will meet you there.” Posts: 7202 | From: EU | Registered: Nov 2006
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