UTMB offers patient a ticket to Mexico

HOUSTON CHRONICLE ^ | October 24, 2011 | HARVEY RICE

[moonshinner_09]

GALVESTON - Francisco Martinez wasn't happy about the free trip back to Mexico offered to him by a social worker at the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Martinez, 37, of Bacliff, broke his back Aug. 17 after falling off a ladder while working on the roof of a bait shop where he was employed.

UTMB doctors saved his life, but he is paralyzed from the chest down, can barely move his hands and needs special care.

[moonshinner_09]

If those who hire illegals in order to cut their costs were held accountable for hospital bills & aftercare like here, they will be less likely to hire illegals... Hospitals are not supposed to provide LTC, which is what he is at the point of needing, and will need for the rest of his life. Time to send him & family back to Mexico where he is a citizen.

[iowamark]

The problem for UTMB is that Martinez is undocumented and has no hope of qualifying for workman's compensation or Medicaid. UTMB is forced to bear the expense of Martinez's care until another place can be found for him to go.

Pancho Arguelles, adviser to Houston-based Living Hope Wheelchair Association for spinal injury patients, has lived in Mexico and is doubtful that care will be available..

Arguelles, who is acquainted with the Martinez case, said U.S. and Texas laws purposely ignore undocumented workers.

No, the LAWS don't ignore illegals, crooked politicians like J.R. Perry do!

[Responsibility2nd]

Talk about ungrateful.

He probably owes UTMB over a million bucks in hospital care. And they even offer him a free ticket - and he turned it down.

There are simple answers though. First - I would bill Mexcio. If they don’t pay - then reduce it from the foreign trade credits we send them all the time.

Another good solution? Let all LEGAL immigrants (Who support illegal immigration) know that their free bennies will be reduced by the millions that this guy has racked up in hospital costs.

[WOBBLY BOB]

That hospital should get a mobile baby delivery van. One that takes illegals to the MX side to give birth. That negates that whole medical tourism/anchor baby deal,too.

[SatinDoll]

The anchor baby issue is an invalid one, I believe. Here’s why.

The President of Mexico has insisted that Mexican citizens, no matter where they are in the world, are still citizens of Mexico, can vote in all Mexican elections while overseas, and are covered by the sovereignty of Mexico.

That means that here in the U.S., all children born of Mexican citizens are themselves Mexican citizens, as they are not born here subject to the jurisdiction of the United States.

If one or both of the parents are Mexican citizens, then so is their child.