Doctor: Quake victims dying without US airlifts

[Kadie]

Doctor: Quake victims dying without US airlifts

By JENNIFER KAY, Associated Press Writer Jennifer Kay, Associated Press Writer – 28 mins ago

MIAMI – The U.S. military has halted flights carrying Haitian earthquake victims to the United States because of an apparent cost dispute, though a doctor warned that some injured patients faced imminent death if the flights don't resume.

The evacuations were temporarily suspended Wednesday, said Capt. Kevin Aandahl, spokesman for U.S. Transportation Command. The flights were halted a day after Florida Gov. Charlie Crist asked the federal government to help pay for care.

However, Dr. Barth Green, a doctor involved in the relief effort in Port-au-Prince, warned that his patients needed to get to better hospitals.

"We have 100 critically ill patients who will die in the next day or two if we don't Medevac them," said Green, chairman of the University of Miami's Global Institute for Community Health and Development.

At a temporary field hospital at Haiti's international airport, set up with donations to Green's institute, two men had already died of tetanus. Doctors said 5-year-old Betina Joseph faced a similar fate within 24 hours unless evacuated to a U.S. hospital where she can be put on a respirator.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100130/ap_on_re_us/us_medical_airlift_haiti

[Brickbat]

1. We don't save our own citizens while providers bicker over cost and who's going to pay for it. Why

should our relief efforts be any different?

[EFerrari]

5. The relief effort is different because it's potentially profitable for a few

powerful people.

Just like the proposed healthcare deform here.

[malaise]

2. Well the excitement and the humanity lasted way longer

than expected - two weeks instead of the usual nine day wonder.
It's back to reality - man to man is so unjust.
It's always people who care - not governments or private sector entities.

[EFerrari]

6. Last night, Mom and I were wondering if, although adoptions have been stopped,

there was a plan to foster kids until the dust settles a little and their families can be found. Have you heard anything about that?

[malaise]

9. Anderson Cooper was saying that they had to take kids

off an aircraft since there were no papers for many of them and no adoption proceedings had been started. They're stealing the poor children now - it's criminality gone mad.

[EFerrari]

10. So horrible and even inhuman.

No one is stepping up. I thought watching Katrina was as angry as I could get. Not. :grr:

[Mika]

15. Billy told me that its very difficult (nearly impossible w/o a bribe) to get airport access.

Some rats in the USAF have a Catch 22 type racket going on. :puke:

---

[rwheeler31]

3. This is disgusting.

[frebrd]

4. Money is the only thing that matters......

in this fucking country!

[Karmadillo]

7. We are the light of the world.

nt

[Obamanaut]

8. Has any other country offered to take up the slack while the bickering

goes on?

[HeresyLives]

11. Well Canada is airlifting orphans out, so maybe

we can help these patients.

[malaise]

13. Several countries are trying to help but this

is an unbelievable disaster. Imagine needing 200,000 tents and having maybe 5,000. Millions are homeless.

[HeresyLives]

14. Yeah, it's bad, and May is the rainy season is it not?

Probably take us that long just to get them all in tents.

[Jamastiene]

12. Disgusting.

Just disgusting.

That poor baby. These senseless deaths are so heart wrenching.
:cry:

[TexasObserver]

16. Haven't you read enough from our resident "experts" to know that's Step 87?

Step 87 doesn't come for another 4 or 5 months. First, they have to secure the place. Then they have to open a few McDonalds and Starbucks. THEN, it might be time for airlifts. Ahem, and all that.





Yeah, it's sarcasm.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

17. I wonder what Chavez will accuse us of now.