Public Confession of A Failed American

-or-

The True Value of Human Life In America

Had my daughter not been born by cesarean section both my wife and daughter would have died.

Even in something so selfish as having a child we could still support our national insurance company. We knew that natural birth would save our insurance company a lot of money. My wife and I proudly charted a natural plan that would reduce or eliminate the need for painkillers and expensive spinal anesthesia.

We also knew from reading stories online that the greedy doctors intentionally overcharged insurance companies by pushing C-sections on patients who didn't need them. We didn't want to short change the doctors - but as good rate paying insureds we wanted to make sure the doctors stayed honest.

After 30 exhausting hours of doggedly standing by my wife in the labor room the doctor gave us the disappointing prognosis - C-section or face worse complications.

I'm ashamed to say that I was not considering my loyalties when I reluctantly gave the go-ahead for the C-section. I knew in my heart that I was betraying the values of the country that allowed the insurance company to do business which in turn allowed us to have reasonable medical care at reasonable cost.

I know that a better citizen would have let his wife and daughter pass to the Lord rather than pass their personal burden to their insurance company. I am a weaker man than that. As a result of my transgressions, we pay. Insurance companies have been considering cesarean section in women a pre-existing condition and will refuse coverage or increase rates to women being covered:

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/09/17/csection-preexisting/

I know that we deserve this. I know that we could have, maybe even should have, chosen otherwise. Yet now almost two years later when I look at my beautiful healthy daughter I can't help but feel that it would have been unfair to let her die before even being born. I know that my feelings are not in line with those values that my country embraces but I can not deny them.

We will bear the consequences of our actions with humility and shame.