The Troubles I've Seen

Anicka Noah, mother of four preschoolers and physician in Germany, follows her husband to the U.S. When he beats her, she grabs her children and strikes out on her own. As a single mother and immigrant she faces reversals. She finally becomes a cardiologist in New Mexico. As she helps patients with heart disease, she recognizes injustice to minorities in healthcare based on her personal background. When she bears witness, she receives increasing threats to her children, home, and career.


She's driven to reveal what her patients undergo. She sees that patients with lower financial ability don’t obtain the same level of care as those with higher means. People suffer and die needlessly. Some physicians don’t make an effort to change their treatment plans. Worse, some companies profit from high costs in health insurance and prescriptions. And politicians don’t act on issues that impact their residents. She's the witness. She's compelled to expose the troubles she's seen. 


Doctor Noah receives threats from angry doctors personally and publicly, her children get harassed, their home gets vandalized, they receive further phone threats about their home, an effort is made to revoke her physicians license, and her tires get slashed. 


At the same time, she has to manage home life with four young children. A retired woman lives with her and helps with child care and household duties. 


The Troubles I’ve Seen begins in 1995, fifteen years before the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) came about. To assume that healthcare has improved for each patient is a serious mistake. The ACA costs too much and leaves too many without care. The ACA doesn’t rectify bias in receiving good healthcare.


With the ACA, people have to pay for health insurance or pay a penalty. Neither option is possible for people who don’t have the needed funds. Extremely low-income persons pay each time to see their doctor, get blood work or X-Rays, have a colonoscopy, mammogram, or other exams, pick up their prescriptions, or pay for out-of-pocket costs. For some, premiums are more than they could afford. Those with health insurance might skip seeing their doctor, getting required tests, or purchasing prescribed medicines, to avoid additional costs.


Because of economic inequality, good healthcare is still a privilege for a few, not a right for everyone. Doctor Anicka Noah believes that receiving healthcare should not be determined by a patient’s minority status or inability to pay. Good healthcare should be available to all.