Video Worksheet
“Sicko”
The video you are about to see is a documentary by the filmmaker, Michael
Moore. The video is one-sided. Specifically, the video highlights the failures of the
American healthcare delivery system. Mr. Moore uses specific case studies and statistics
that have been verified as accurate by CNN, to support his conclusion that the American
healthcare delivery system is failing. Mr. Moore, however, fails in his documentary to
provide statistics or case scenarios that highlight or document the successes of the
American healthcare system. Specifically, Mr. Moore does not provide scenarios of
people who were able to buy health insurance, were properly reimbursed for their
medical expenses, and received state-of-the-art care. This is the case for many
Americans, and would not make for an interesting documentary!
Students are not asked to adopt Mr. Moore’s conclusions, but only to consider his
portrayal and analysis of the American healthcare system, with emphasis on his
comparisons between the United States and other industrialized countries. Mr. Moore’s
classic investigative journalistic techniques are provocative, humorous and annoying to
some people. However, most students who have watched this film have agreed that they
had gained new insight into the American healthcare delivery system, even though many
continued to disagree with Mr. Moore’s perspective.
If you do not wish to view the film and complete this worksheet, I will provide
you with an alternative assignment that you can complete in the library.
I have read the above information and wish to watch the film and complete the worksheet
(circle one): YES
NO
________________________________________________
Student’s Name
1. How many Americans have no health insurance?
2. What was Rick’s first thought after his accident?
3. Why did the Smiths lose their home?
4. Why does Frank have to keep working until he dies?
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Date
5. Why wasn’t Laura’s ambulance ride covered by insurance?
6. What are some of the conditions that make someone ineligible for health insurance?
7. What incentive did the doctor receive to deny medical treatments to the insured?
8. What did Lee look for?
9. Who did the medical director of the insurance company confess to?
10. What was the result of Kaiser’s plan to provide health care for a profit?
11. What were some of the concerns about socialized medicine?
12. What did Adrian do to get health insurance?
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13. Why should Canadians pay for each other’s health problems according to the
Canadian golfer?
14. How much do people in England pay for their medicine?
15. What are some of the services that are free or highly subsidized in America?
16. What is the doctor’s salary in dollars?
17. Why didn’t the doctors at Martin Luther King Hospital provide treatment to the little
girl?
18. How many sick days do people in France get?
19. Do doctors make house calls in America? Why do you think they do not?
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20. How much paid vacation do people get in France?
vacation?
How do they get extra days of
21. In Los Angeles, where do hospitals dump their uninsured patients?
22. According to the film, what is one way to judge a society?
23. Why were some 9/11 rescuers denied medical treatment?
24. What is the level of care given to detainees at Guatanamo Bay navy base, in Cuba?
25. Why don’t we use the ideas about healthcare that other Western countries use?
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