Things to Consider Regarding Medical Tourism

Traveling outside the United States for medical treatment, a practice that is sometimes called “medical tourism,” is growing in popularity among the more affluent American health care consumers. Although there are many reasons for the commercial success of medical tourism, and the companies that specialize in the technical details of arranging such medical travel, there are several factors that must be considered before embarking on what may prove to be an expensive, and risky, foray abroad. Before committing yourself, and you family, to such a radical course of action, you should carefully consider the following questions.

Why choose medical tourism?

In the majority of cases, consideration of medical tourism is only entertained after the medical treatment being provided to you or some emotionally-close family member has reached the terminal care stage. By terminal care, we mean that all further treatment options have been exhausted and/or are not felt to offer any real hope of a cure. If this is indeed the case, this is the time to “step back and regroup.” Not in the physical sense, of course, but in the emotional sense. 

No one wants to hear that they, or a family member, has reached the point that their disease has “won the battle” and that death is inevitable within weeks or months. At such times, those with enough financial resources or access to resources through borrowing or sale of personal property will commit their families to a course of action that would be considered unrealistic and foolhardy if undertaken under any other circumstances.

Is there a reasonable expectation of improvement or cure by traveling abroad for treatment?

In this age of almost instantaneous electronic communication, word of any “stunning” or “miracle” cure for any disease would be available anywhere in the world within days of its announcement. We must also acknowledge that no American health care facility would deny a proven treatment on the grounds that it was developed in another country. We must also admit that facilities offering treatments that carry unrealistic promises are undoubtedly playing on the distorted emotional states of those with the most to lose should such miracles fail to materialize. Any treatment facility that requires substantial cash “down-payments” should be avoided.

Are there ethical or human rights issues involved in a medical tourism or medical travel decision?

There are some nations, such as China or India, where organ transplantation has evolved into a significant factor in many local economies. In the former, human rights groups have long alleged that condemned “prisoners” often become “organ donors” within minutes of their executions while, in the latter country, kidney donors are known to have been pre-screened and await the arrival of rich foreigners needing kidneys, for which the donor will be paid the equivalent of a few hundred dollars. Until international transplantation ethics are on a par with the situation in the United States, medical tourism for the purpose of expedited organ procurement or transplantation should be avoided and denounced as unethical and a violation of basic human rights.

In summary, this short essay has raised but a few issues that should be considered regarding the issue of medical tourism or medical travel for healthcare purposes. It is hoped that even this short treatment of the subject will cause the reader to consider the moral and ethical issues raised by these practices.

What types of health care can I travel for?

Medical tourism is becoming increasingly popular these days, especially for Americans without health insurance and those that need procedures their insurance policies won’t cover. The cost of medical procedures in other countries is often less than half the cost of the same procedures in the U.S., and that price usually includes meals and lodging abroad, as well. People interested in medical travel can choose from a number of destinations, including Mexico, Costa Rica, India, Brazil, South Africa, and Turkey. Foreign hospitals that cater to medical tourists usually have English-speaking staff and offer other accommodations for American patients.

Cosmetic Surgery

You can travel for a number of cosmetic procedures, including breast reduction or augmentation, face lift, liposuction, rhinoplasty (nose job), and tummy tuck. You can also travel for procedures like chemical peels, dermabrasion, and injectable fillers like Botox.