I’d hazard a guess that few, if any, in this administration or among the those who handed them the reins of government would be moved by narratives like this whose understanding requires a shred of empathy and compassion for random unfortunate others. A person’s value in this worldview is solely measured by net worth. Or, possibly net worth modulo unqualified support for the administration’s leadership. But I’m not sure about the latter.

ERs cannot turn people away. Waiting times will get longer. Hospitals owned by private equity will get a surprise bite to their bottom line. University hospitals will send their bills to the state.