Bad Medicine: The Risks of Medical Tourism

Bad+Medicine%3A+The+Risks+of+Medical+Tourism

Olivia Rosato, Reporter

Early this month, four Americans were kidnapped after crossing the United States-Mexico border for elective cosmetic surgical procedures. Two were found dead, while two were rescued and returned to the United States, according to CNN. The harrowing event brings to light the pressing issue of medical tourism, which is a growing industry wherein people travel internationally for less expensive or experimental medical care. 

 

Medical care in the US is increasingly expensive. Therefore, medical tourism is particularly popular for people with no health insurance or insurance that does not issue coverage until thousands of dollars have already been paid. The desire to reduce medical costs is very tempting for Americans, especially since according to AP News, medical costs in Mexico alone are about 50% cheaper than in the US. Another motive for medical tourism is access to experimental or  medical care unavailable in the US. Certain prescription medications and cancer trials offer US citizens a wider range of options for hopefully resolving medical ailments. The most popular destinations for medical tourists are Mexico, India, and parts of Eastern Europe, but the industry is growing rapidly, extending to many countries. 

 

Medical tourism poses a multitude of risks to those involved. One of the reasons medical care is often less expensive is because the quality of care is worse; many people experience infections, unforeseen complications, and other procedural errors when receiving illicit medical care in a multitude of countries. Doctors advise patients that, should they decide to travel for medical care, they should ensure that the care is coming from a reputable provider.

 

Another risk, as presented by the recent kidnapping of the four Americans, is the dangerous travel between countries. According to the BBC, tens of thousands of Americans travel to Mexican border cities annually to receive dental, cosmetic, and other surgical procedures. There are currently several travel advisories in place on the route to many of these cities, citing that cars and passenger buses are at risk of kidnappings and other crimes, but due to the costs of medical care in the U.S., many Americans are still willing to take the risk. Americans that choose to travel internationally are advised to go strictly to their appointments, bring someone else along with them, and be cautious en route to their destination.

 

The expense of healthcare in the U.S. fuels the rapidly growing medical tourism industry. Despite its dangers, medical tourism is a global experience that gives new motive to international travel. The dangers are not likely to subside so doctors hope that patients will be careful when traveling abroad for medical care, though the medical tourism industry shows no signs of slowing down.