Posted on 08/22/2006 7:38:30 AM PDT by Huntress
NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- The health-care industry is worried sick over "Sicko."
Few details have emerged about the 2007 documentary from Michael Moore, the filmmaker who ripped apart Detroit automakers with "Roger and Me" and now has his sights set on the $1.5 trillion pharmaceutical and health-care industry. But it's still enough to mobilize health-care trade groups who are trying to discredit the film.
No balance from Moore "A review of America's health-care system should be balanced, thoughtful and well-researched to pin down what works and what needs to be improved," said Ken Johnson, senior VP for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. "You won't get that from Michael Moore."
Added a spokesman for one of the top 10 pharma companies: "We expect it will be one-sided and biased, just like his other documentaries."
Several other pharmaceutical makers did not return calls for comment. But Pfizer, AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline all advised their employees last year not to speak to Mr. Moore when he began his research for "Sicko." It is not known whether any HMOs or drug companies will appear in the film.
"We were approached, but declined," said a spokeswoman for a second top-10 drugmaker. "Frankly, as much as we felt like we wanted to get our message across, in the end we didn't want to subject ourselves to the editing process."
Academy Award winner Mr. Moore, the Academy Award-winning director of "Bowling for Columbine" and "Fahrenheit 9/11" -- the latter the biggest-grossing documentary in movie history -- recently told Variety that the drug companies have been on to him for some time.
"They're so hip [to me] that whenever we have a family" with a health-care nightmare "they get free health care," Mr. Moore said during panel discussions last month at his second annual Traverse City Film Festival in Michigan. "There has been a 100% success rate of the people we're filming of getting whatever they need from the HMOs, pharmaceutical companies, whatever."
On his website, Mr. Moore offered a snapshot of what the documentary entails. "Back in February, I asked if people would send me letters describing their experiences with our health-care system, and I received over 19,000 of them," he wrote. "To read about the misery people are put through on a daily basis by our profit-based system was both moving and revolting. We've spent the better part of this year shooting our next movie, 'Sicko.' As we've done with our other films, we don't discuss them while we are making them. If people ask, we tell them 'Sicko' is a comedy about 45 million people with no health care in the richest country on Earth."
Film in flux Mr. Moore didn't return calls for comment. But on his site he said that, like his other films, what he starts with is not necessarily what he ends with.
"That, I can say with certainty, is happening now as we shoot 'Sicko,'" he wrote. "I don't think the country needs a movie that tells you that HMOs and the pharmaceutical companies suck. Everybody knows that. I'd like to show you some things you don't know. So stay tuned for where this movie has led me. I think you might enjoy it."
19,000 discontented health care patients out of how many millions per day getting treatment and care?
Unfortunately our health system can stand some tweaking. There are too many working folks that can't afford good health care.
Don't put it past him,boys and girls because he's one of the greediest "progressives" you'll ever run across.
Except for the Kerrys,of course.
I wish these idiots would stop using the term "documentary" to describe Disgusting Fatbody's celluloid excrement. Since when are forced confrontations, made-up "facts" and removal of context considered "documentary"?
The health care industry would do best to just ignore this slob until he has his first heart attack.
Then, maybe, ignore him some more.
Now now, we don't talk like that over here, leave the wishes of dying to the dummies.
Exactly. It's propaganda, plain and simple. Someone please define "documentary."
I'm waiting for Hillary Clinton to review this movie. She's the smartest woman in America and as unelected (unconstitutional) co-president (or co-dictator) she tried to take over the health care industry.
AND she had pharmacutical companies in her investment porfolio (and we all know how she was able to turn a $1,000 investment into $100,000).
If anyone should know about the health care industry in America, it is Queen Hill.
< /BARF & SARCASM >
Liberals always say 45 million don't have healthcare. Now of that 45 million, i'm sure a lot are bumming free health care off emergency rooms/etc. or opting not to have it.
Even so that leaves 255 million who have healthcare. So 85% of this country is covered, and 15% isn't. Nobody EVER mentions that. So what do we do, completely screw it over for the other 85% for that 15%? I think not.
The mass media would be best advised to label this crud as propaganda first and only. It would be like hyping some new video from the KKK as a documentary.
Gives it far more credibility that it is owed.
No health insurance is not no health care.
If some healthy, single 28-year-old chooses not to pay $400/month for health insurance, that's his choice.
I like the little bee Nasonex uses. I dream about him when I sleep with the help of my Ambien cr. If it wasn't for my Requip I doubt I would ever stop moving my legs long enough to sleep. I find that using a Segway I can stop my legs from moving entirely. This post has made me nauseous. Where is my 15 day free trial of Nexium?
The more people get "free" health care, like moore himself brags about, the more we have to pay to cover those costs. Nothing is "free".
All these illegal immigrants piling into ER's are what's driving up your premiums, along with the lawyers chasing ambulances. When the cost of delivery goes up, so does the cost of the insurance premium which ultimately is what pays for the health care you need.
As one who worked in health care for 20+ years (at a world famous hospital),I have a couple.
1)Lawyers
2)Patients who demand to see a neurosurgeon every time they're hit on the head with a wiffle ball.
3)The fact that average 15 year old (and the average 50 year old) is at least 30 pounds overweight.
The same can be said of many news program "action teams" when there is a dispute, whether it is over misplaced drycleaning, a pothole that isn't getting fixed, a bad haircut, or someone needing reconstructive cosmetic surgery.
Actually Hillary's bleatings put the insurance companies on the defensive for a couple of years. Before she was shot down, rates were mysteriously going down for a couple of years. I remember well because I do our renewals.
Most of my dreams are about Digger,the dematphyte...you know,a nail infection.It's no use for me to take my Cialis because my wife says that with my flaky,discolored nails,it's *never* the right time for her.
Screw 'em. They should have planned better.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.