Headline: Poet Garth Greenwell Battles Near-Death Experience in New Novel ‘Small Rain’
SEO Keywords: garth Greenwell,Small Rain,novel,poetry,illness,literature,aorta,hospital,COVID-19,Virginia Woolf,On Being Ill,Luis Muñoz,death,life,Random House
Article:
Garth Greenwell,the acclaimed author of ‘What belongs to You,’ faced a harrowing experience that now fuels his latest novel,’Small Rain.’ A sudden aortic dissection landed the healthy poet in an Iowa ICU during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“‘Small Rain’ is not a novel for hypochondriacs,” greenwell states. “Yes, it can be a challenging novel if hospitals scare you”.
The novel, while not autobiographical, mirrors Greenwell’s brush with mortality. He explores the disorientation that follows such an unexpected encounter with death.Greenwell, while primarily a novelist, emphasizes the importance of poetry in his life, it is the art in the centre of how we give meaning to life.
The novel weaves in verses from poets like Louis Glück, Valeti Petrov, Sylvia Plath, and Luís Muñoz, Greenwell’s partner.
“‘Small Rain’ takes us almost to death to bring us closer to life,” Greenwell explains. He delves into the paradox of how illness and pain can strip away life but also restore a sense of urgency and recognition.
Greenwell notes the lack of literature on the experience of illness, referencing Virginia Woolf’s essay ‘On Being Ill.’ He contrasts this with the rich literature on spiritual and psychological pain, noting the notable exception of AIDS literature.He questions why Western society seems to avoid contemplating illness and death.
How do political ideologies regarding healthcare affect the accessibility and affordability of preventative care services for diverse populations in the US?
US Illness: Is Healthcare a Political Issue? Decoding the Intersection of Policy and public Health
The American Healthcare System and Political Ideologies
The US healthcare system is undeniably a battleground where political ideologies clash, shaping access to healthcare, healthcare costs, and the overall health of the American population. Political issues in healthcare often revolve around the core tenets of different political views. As an example, those on the left typically advocate for worldwide healthcare, viewing it as a fundamental right, while those on the right may emphasize individual obligation and free-market principles in healthcare. Understanding these fundamental differences is key when analyzing the impact of political healthcare policies.
This complex interplay deeply affects countless Americans facing illness in the US, including the availability of affordable medication, preventative services, and specialized treatment options.These political debates have become especially contentious, in areas such as those associated with Medicare and Medicaid, which are constantly being altered by various politicians for better or worse.
Policy Decisions Impacting Healthcare Access and Cost
Healthcare policy is largely shaped by the decisions of elected officials.Key areas where policy has significant influence include:
- Affordable Care Act (ACA): This landmark legislation, a subject of ongoing political debate as its inception, aimed to expand health insurance coverage. Some of its benefits include the prevention of insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.Many see its shortcomings as the rising of healthcare costs.
- Drug Pricing: The debate over the regulation of prescription drug prices is deeply political, with proponents aiming for lower prices and opponents arguing against limiting innovation, which provides additional challenges to US citizen healthcare.
- Medicare and Medicaid: Medicare serves the elderly and disabled, while Medicaid offers coverage to low-income individuals and families.Political decisions often affect the eligibility criteria, funding levels, and services offered by both programs.
- Public Health Initiatives: The response to public health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and the implementation of health initiatives are heavily influenced by governmental actions and inactions.
Real-world Examples:
The politics involved with the American Healthcare System and US illness have caused many real-world problems for citizens,including the COVID-19 pandemic. Depending on the political affiliation of the state and federal government,guidelines have been updated to deal with the pandemic challenges. These decisions where affected by:
- Mask Mandates: Some politicians opposed to wearing a mask,and frequently enough ignored mandates.
- Healthcare Funding: Some politicians attempted to delay or reduce funding for hospitals to help with the pandemic.
- Vaccine Regulations: policies to require and not require certain vaccines during the pandemic were often controlled by political affiliations.
These real-world examples show the consequences of political healthcare battles, putting the health of millions of Americans at risk.
The Political Impact on Public Health Outcomes
Political healthcare dynamics directly affect public health outcomes. Changes in policy can affect:
- Preventative Care: Policies that support free or low-cost preventative services can improve the health of a population. Others that discourage such services can lead to delayed diagnosis and worsen outcomes (e.g., mammograms, colonoscopies, etc.).
- Chronic Disease Management: Access to care and medication for chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease is influenced by policy decisions relating to subsidies, insurance, and drug pricing.
- Mental Health Services: The availability of mental healthcare, and its integration into the mainstream healthcare system, is an area where active political debate is ongoing.
- Health Disparities: Healthcare policies impact diverse populations disproportionately. Some communities may face higher risks for illness in the US. Political decisions have the potential to exacerbate or alleviate these disparities.
The Future of Healthcare: Ongoing Debates and Key Players
The future of healthcare in the U.S. is an arena of ongoing debate, involving a wide range of stakeholders:
Key Players:
- Federal Government: sets the stage through legislation such as the ACA; funding for programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
- State Governments: Implement federal policies from Medicaid, and also set regulations for the industry, and contribute to funding.
- Healthcare Providers: Doctors,hospitals,and clinics directly impact patient access and care.
- Insurance Companies: Control plans that help people receive insurance to help pay for medical costs.
- Pharma Companies: Help to create life-saving medications, while also creating controversies on the inflated cost.
- Patient Advocacy Groups: Work to improve healthcare accessibility and improve care.
- Public: People elect officials and vote about policies.
The Main Points of Ongoing Debate are:
- Universal Healthcare: Debate is ongoing as to whether this should be a right and whether the costs can be controlled.
- Drug Pricing Reform: Proposals for government regulation of drug prices remain highly contested.
- Telehealth and Innovation: Government backing is needed for the implementation for improved healthcare options.
- Health Equity: How to address healthcare disparities through legislation and funding.
