The Tale of 2 Leukemia Cases:- The Haves versus the Have nots

Firstly, let me preface this by saying its no laughing matter that BG Yeo's son has leukemia, and also that Marjorie Soh, the 12 year old girl lost her battle with leukemia at the age of 12. I can't imagine the pain of losing one's child at that age.

However, I am struck by the contrast and simlarity between these 2 cases. In one case, BG Yeo has a young son diagnosed with leukemia, and the Sohs also have a young daughter diagnosed with leukemia too. One family carries on life with no noticeable financial burden, and the other family is in effect bankrupt and chased after by creditors and have to sell their home.

BG Yeo is a wealthy man, we all know this, and dispite the ability to get cheap medical care in singapore for his son (such as $8 heart bypass surgeries available only to ministers like him), he choses to send his entire family (all 5 of them) to Memphis Tenessee to live there for 9 months while his son undergoes medical treatment there. I am not even going to guess what the cost is. And while there, he renovates his house into a sterile enviornment for his son, yet another $1 million spend there easily.

The heartlanders Soh in the meantime, using singapore doctors and hospital (because the govt. tells them they are best in medical field in the region) runs up a $400K medical bill, and still the daughter dies. I guess that BG Yeo did not get the memo that he was already living in the country that has the bestest facilities and doctors, and decided to take his son to the US. The SOhs have spend literally every dollar they have to save their daughter, just like any forumer reading this would have done. They have even sold their home and yet its not enough to cover the bills. They will be made bankrupt soon. And no govt. agency, hospital or doctor can or is willing to save them. Even the evil doctor cut her bill in half and then to zero for the Sultan of Brunei's sister. But not applicable if you are just a normal citizen.

Sad to say, in singapore, this is not the exceptional case at all. From personal experience, I have friends and relatives that have incurred 6 figure medical bills dispite all the plethora of supposed insurance, and financial aid plans available according to the PAP. Wooden Goh used to say repeatedly that no one will be left behind in S'pore's economic success. I beg to differ, many people are being left behind and they are not on the lower spectrum either. They are regular people, not poorly educated or jobless.

What happened to the principal that all will receive the same medical care? Since went has it been ok for a servant of the people like BG Yeo to say local medicine is not good enough, I go to the US. If the Sohs could afford it, I am sure they would have gone to Memphis too, and maybe the BG and the Sohs could have been neighbours.

Herein lies the deception that Khaw, Mah and the other have played on the singapore people.
1) health care is affordable. No its not, ask the Sohs and thousands like them.
2) U can monetize your flat for your retirement. Not if you or your spouse or child has a serious illness, in which case, u will do just like the Sohs and sell your flat to pay for the medical costs. What are the odds that a serious illness will happen to you or someone in your family before the age of 65 yr?. Its high, so good luck to you if you are relying on your flat to fund your retirement.

What does it say about a country with hundreds of billions $ in reserve, multi million dollar ministers and politicians, shiny new high rise, fantastic govt. buildings, politicians who go overseas for medical treatment and french cooking, and all this cannot save one little girl's family from financial ruin. If you still think u want to vote for the PAP, u have rocks in your brain. Just remember, TODAY IT WAS THE SOHS, TOMORROW, IT COULD BE YOUR FAMILY. Just like that.

This is not only a costly trip for the Yeos. He might lose his seat trying to sell tainted sympathy. So far he is the most affordable and extravagant MIW.

the wrath of God is here. 1 has a son with arse cancer and 1 has son with ... I don't know what to say ....

rusty said:

This is not only a costly trip for the Yeos. He might lose his seat trying to sell tainted sympathy. So far he is the most affordable and extravagant MIW.

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Papsmearer said:

However, I am struck by the contrast and simlarity between these 2 cases. In one case, BG Yeo has a young son diagnosed with leukemia, and the Sohs also have a young daughter diagnosed with leukemia too. One family carries on life with no noticeable financial burden, and the other family is in effect bankrupt and chased after by creditors and have to sell their home.

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It goes without saying that the rich are always better off than the poor in all aspects. If wealth didn't bring benefits, why on earth would anyone strive to become wealthy???

Quality health care is a scarce resource. It is not available to everyone. Like all things which are in short supply, it has to be allocated according to the ability to pay. That's how the world economy works.

If you expect some sort of Utopian existence where everyone gets whatever they need for free, you'll have to wait for the afterlife as it certainly isn't going to happen anywhere on earth.

Leongsam said:

It goes without saying that the rich are always better off than the poor in all aspects. If wealth didn't bring benefits, why on earth would anyone strive to become wealthy???

Quality health care is a scarce resource. It is not available to everyone. Like all things which are in short supply, it has to be allocated according to the ability to pay. That's how the world economy works.

If you expect some sort of Utopian existence where everyone gets whatever they need for free, you'll have to wait for the afterlife as it certainly isn't going to happen anywhere on earth.

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Sam, you are stating the obvious. Rich people will always get better treatment everywhere because they can buy it. My point is not that BG Yeo should not spend millions on his son, rather its why in prosperous singapore are people losing their homes, life savings, etc. over hospital bills? Who wants to work hard, save money, invest carefully, etc. to see it all lost due to one serious sickness? The example of the Sohs should be a warning to all sinkies that we are all just one illness away from destitution regardless of how well we are doing now. 25 years ago, before hospitals were privatised, this would not have happened. But this money making for profit govt identified public hospitals as money losing propositions and privatised them all.

Also, the optics of the whole situation is really bad. We have a govt. who proclaims to the world that they have the best medical facilties and shamelessly promotes medical tourism, and yet one of their senior officials runs to another country for medical treatment. As it turns out, only tinpot 3rd world dictators like Robert Mugabe, Burmese generals, etc. come to singapore for treatment because they can't get a US visa. If you have such good medical facilities, you should back it up, ask Yeo to stay here for his son's treatment. The difference between Yeo and some other rich people like Khoo, Li-Kashing, Stanley Ho, etc. is that these people are private citizens while Yeo is a public figure. So, it does matter where his son gets his medical treatment. He cannot be held to the same standard as other rich people.

you talk cock sing song again .... fuck off ...

Leongsam said:

It goes without saying that the rich are always better off than the poor in all aspects. If wealth didn't bring benefits, why on earth would anyone strive to become wealthy???

Quality health care is a scarce resource. It is not available to everyone. Like all things which are in short supply, it has to be allocated according to the ability to pay. That's how the world economy works.

If you expect some sort of Utopian existence where everyone gets whatever they need for free, you'll have to wait for the afterlife as it certainly isn't going to happen anywhere on earth.

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By the way, you should all know something too about the Hospital that BG Yeo send his son to.

Research findings at St. Jude are shared freely with doctors and scientists all over the world.
The medical and scientific staff published more than 640 articles in academic journals in 2009, more than any other pediatric cancer research center in the United States. St. Jude’s researchers are published and cited more often in high impact publications than any other private pediatric oncology institution in America.
St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family’s inability to pay.[/COLOR]

That's right, u read that correctly. Even though BG Yeo is a foreigner, a total stranger, this hospital would have treated his son FOR FREE if he did not have the money to pay for it. Got such thing or not in Singapore? Unheard of, even Khaw has to pay $8. Yet. the PAP has no qualms about bankrupting a family for hospital bills. I wonder if BG Yeo even paid anything for the treatment.

Leongsam said:

It goes without saying that the rich are always better off than the poor in all aspects. If wealth didn't bring benefits, why on earth would anyone strive to become wealthy???

Quality health care is a scarce resource. It is not available to everyone. Like all things which are in short supply, it has to be allocated according to the ability to pay. That's how the world economy works.

If you expect some sort of Utopian existence where everyone gets whatever they need for free, you'll have to wait for the afterlife as it certainly isn't going to happen anywhere on earth.

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Yes, u are right, money buys u many benefits. Lets say for example something very bad is to happen to singapore tomorrow. Civil war, impending natural catastrophe, etc. Whatever. And there are only a limited number of planes with limited number of seating available to fly people out. Yes, we would expect the rich like the Wees, Khoos, etc. to be able to buy their way on the planes. That is what their wealth is for. Would we than also expect a minister like BG Yeo to also buy a seat on the plane? After all he can afford it. Yes, he can, I suppose. But how does that look? Same analogy I am using.

i have a question...how much are you willing to spend on treatment if you kanna terminal disease?touch wood...

hotbot said:

i have a question...how much are you willing to spend on treatment if you kanna terminal disease?touch wood...

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In many countries, you don't need to ask yourself this question. In singapore, unfortunately, u have to ask this question. In countries like Canada, UK, the answer is nothing, because the govt. pays for it. In singapore, if you spend too much to live a little longer, than your family will have less for themselves. Its a horrible choice for the family to make. And since there is no cheap way to die (unless u very good insurance), its better to kill yourself. If you are thinking of this, please take either Khaw or Mah with you, ala suicide bomber style.

hotbot said:

how much are you willing to spend on treatment if you kanna terminal disease?

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eight dollars

This is not the fault of the government but the fault of Sinkies. At the end of the day, someone has to foot the bill for the medical costs. If the government is paying it, it will still need to get the money from somewhere. In western countries, the people are willing to pay high taxes in return for free healthcare for everyone. In Sinkieland, you are living in lalaland if you think the next person will help you when you are in trouble. Sinkies don't even approve of minimum wage. They are only concerned about how much their chicken rice is going to cost if minimum wage is implemented. It is no surprise at how Sinkieland has turned out after all these years. Being invaded by hordes of foreigners is simply a natural consequence of their mentality.

Of course, if there were such empathy in existence in the first place, the PAP government would have been kicked out long ago for their greediness and incompetence.

Papsmearer said:

Also, the optics of the whole situation is really bad. We have a govt. who proclaims to the world that they have the best medical facilties and shamelessly promotes medical tourism, and yet one of their senior officials runs to another country for medical treatment. As it turns out, only tinpot 3rd world dictators like Robert Mugabe, Burmese generals, etc. come to singapore for treatment because they can't get a US visa.

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Singapore has excellent medical facilities. That's why the likes of Mugabe and the Burmese drug lords come to Singapore for specialist medical care.

However, there can only be one place that is the best of the best and when it comes to cancer treatment, the USA is tops.

Anyone can end up with cancer. That's why I've set aside a sizable sum so that if it does happen, I can afford to hop on a plane and seek out the best possible treatment.

I don't earn a couple of million dollars a year. However, with careful planning, I have budgeted for the best possible treatment should a serious illness befall me. This has been achieved through a combination of savings and health insurance plans. If I can plan for such eventualities, so can any sinkie. All it takes is half a brain.

The problem with most sinkies is that they waste money trying to keep up appearances instead of planning for things that actually matter.

hotbot said:

i have a question...how much are you willing to spend on treatment if you kanna terminal disease?touch wood...

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I'll spend whatever it takes. I enjoy my life and I'd like it to last for as long as possible.

However, if my quality of life falls to the point where I don't feel life is fun anymore, I'll stop prolonging the misery and let nature take its course.

You sure BG Yeo's son has leukemia. I see him and his two sons regularly at our neighbourhood and they looked perfectly fine.

tanwahtiu said:

you talk cock sing song again .... fuck off ...

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It's the hard truth. If you don't like what I write in my own forum, YOU can fuck off.:oIo:

Leongsam said:

It's the hard truth. If you don't like what I write in my own forum,.....

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maybe you yank too much chains that people like to offer you a spade instead

middaydog said:

eight dollars

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hi there

1. uncle, you are damn good man!
2. btw, no one really knows what the perks on medical benefits for sheep are extended to sheep's immediate family.
3. whether the medical treatment in the states is included or what.

hairylee said:

You sure BG Yeo's son has leukemia. I see him and his two sons regularly at our neighbourhood and they looked perfectly fine.

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Why u question me? BG Yeo has 3 sons and 1 daughter. Its the youngest one that has leukemia. What u saw are his 2 older boys. The young one has to stay in a sterile envrionment at home so as not to catch any germs which, with his weakened immune system he will have difficulty to fight off. i.e. he can ctahc dirty germs from u, that's why u don't see him.

streetsmart73 said:

hi there

1. uncle, you are damn good man!
2. btw, no one really knows what the perks on medical benefits for sheep are extended to sheep's immediate family.
3. whether the medical treatment in the states is included or what.

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the sky is he limit mah. If an entire 747 can be fitted out into a flying hospital, and flown all the way to London to pick up the shrivel old gecko who has such a short life span left, imagine what limit is there for the the elites.