Should the illegal immigrant in a coma be send back to his country of origin?

Question

A 30-year-old Mexican man in a coma at the University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago has ignited a dispute over a little-known practice at hospitals—sending medically needy undocumented immigrants back to their countries of origin.

The disagreement revolves around Francisco Pantaleon, who arrived in the U.S. 11 years ago and suffered a severe brain hemorrhage in mid-July, according to his sister Socorro. A father of two, Pantaleon worked at a carwash and has no health insurance, she said.

The medical center believes there is "little hope for recovery," according to a statement released Tuesday, and officials arranged for Pantaleon to be transferred to a hospital in Acapulco at UIC's expense. An official said his immediate family consented to the move.

But Pantaleon's sister and cousin are protesting that arrangement and have retained lawyers in hopes of preventing it. "This is an injustice," said his sister, who worries that Pantaleon won't survive the trip or find adequate care in Mexico.

Answer 1

Yes he should. We shouldn't have to foot the bill. We didn't invite him and quite frankly,we don't want him here.

Answer 2

Yes he should.  Let their country handle the medical expense.  

Answer 3

For every day he is the hospital in the ICU, he is costing tax payers an average of about $5000-10000 a day.. do you know how many non insured tax payers could benefit from that? why is this an issue. I don't think they should be treated at all. if they are dieing, treat them then immediate shipment back to their home. I know Americans who need medical treatment and who can't get it without paying up front and we "waste" money on treating their toe aches and scraped fingers. I may sound cold hearted but I think we should ship him home yesterday. plus you know this lawyer they hired is being paid for by our tax dollars. again why is this an issue.  

Answer 4

Yes he should.  This illegal was here 11 years and never tried to become a US Citizen??    Strike 1

Not only that, but who is paying for his care while he is in the hospital??  Mr. and Mrs. American taxpayer, that's who!!    Strike 2

In this case, two strikes and you're out of here!!

Answer 5

Yes.  His wife WANTS him transfered.  She knows that every day he remains at UIC is one more day of expenses.  Mexico has the resources to take care of him in Acapulco (don't they have comprehensive medical for all citizens?).

His sister and cousin, who do NOT have any legal standing have raised this issue.  They think that they should make his wife responsible for yet more expenses in the US.

Answer 6

I think UIC was being very fair and considerate considering he doesn't have a chance for recovery. It gives his family in Mexico a chance for closure and to say good bye while the person is still alive that they wouldn't have if he stayed here. The rest of his family sounds like they haven't faced reality and aren't considering the rest of the family. It's a hard thing to face knowing a loved one is beyond help, I've had to face it myself once and know the struggle it causes with emotions. But in the end you must do what needs to be done. My heart is with his family as they come to terms with this.

Answer 7

Send him back only when we send every single one of you non-NATIVE AMERICANS back to your forefathers' country of origin.

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Answer 8

Yes. He is a citizen of Mexico,let them foot the bill for his care. He could easily cost the US taxpayers millions of dollars over his lifetime if his condition doesn't improve. We already provided far more free care for him then we would get if we got injured in Mexico from their government.

If his family wants him to stay here,then they need to make arrangements for payment of his bills.  

Answer 9

He needs to be returned to the country he came from, and the management of the hospital that did the work on him needs to be sued by the taxpayers for mis-use of funds.

Answer 10

Health care is not free.  If he and his family do not have the resources or intention of reimbursing the hospital for the costs, then he should be moved back to his home country.  If there is no chance for survival and the patient is found to be brain dead, maybe the hospital should seek consent for pulling any and all life support for the duration of his existence. Sounds cruel and harsh and I'm sure someone will definately disagree, but would the family rather go to mexico and visit him in his  comatose state, or his grave side here in the States.

Answer 11

Yes, he should definitely be sent back to his own country for medical care.  Taxpayers of a country should never have to bear the burdens of medical costs for someone who does not even abide by immigration laws.

Mexico happens to have very good medical care available.  U Guadalajara Medical School is excellent.  They also have very good - and very cheap - medical insurance available.  Also consider that patients with serious illnesses/injuries do much better in familiar surroundings with family members around them.  This patient's prognosis is much better with him back in Mexico than in a foreign country.

Answer 12

Don't worry, this isn't at your expense americans, this country is to selfish, when he wakes up or dies, he or his family will get a very expensive bill that will make them lose everything.

Answer 13

yes send his illegal a$$ back. He is costing the taxpayer way to much in free medical, or they can use him for scientific study. Someone needs to check the status of his family and send them packing with him if they are illegal too!

Answer 14

Not our citizen.  Not up to the taxpayers of the US to pay for it.

If he/his family isn't paying for his care, and if he doesnt have private insurance..............

Back he should go to wherever it is he is from.

Answer 15

He should be sent back as soon as he's stable enough to travel. Why should we be forced to take care of him? He broke our laws and now we're expected to care for him, send him back and let his government take care of him.

Answer 16

Yes absolutely, send him back, or let the mexican government take care of all of the expenses... retroactive. Why should the US taxpayers foot the bill for an illegal citizen from Mexico ? This political correctness is just gotten out of hand!

Answer 17

I feel that we are only getting one side of the story (not from you but from the media) if the family has consented to have the patient transferred then why are they complaining about it. sounds like someone is not telling the whole story doesn't it?

lastly does he have any US citizen immediate relatives? if so that would certainly create more issues

yes he should be sent back, but a few things need to be clarified