What does it require for us to preserve our lives?
A decade ago, an American man took a radical step towards treating health problems.
The complexity of being able to treat health problems for free also affected James Verone
In 2011, then 59 years old, the man decided to risk his freedom to get a medical diagnosis — and, later, a specialized procedure.
Suffering from sharp pains in his chest and a serious problem with his left foot, Verone saw no alternative to treatment unless he was arrested.
His conditions were precarious, there was no possibility of him being able to finance the necessary medications or even a possible surgery.
Suspecting that he was suffering from cancer, James put his plan into action.
It was June 2011, the American entered a bank in the city of Gastonia, located in the state of North Carolina, United States, and handed a note to one of the cashiers.
On the paper, there was a curious request: Verone only wanted a dollar; that was his strategy to end up behind bars. When the bank employee warned that he would call the authorities, the thief was calm and just waited for the cars to arrive.
“I told the attendant I would wait for the police. I wanted to make it clear that I did not commit the crime for financial reasons, but for medical reasons”, said the man in an interview carried by Veja magazine.
When he was captured, James had two choices, post a two-thousand-dollar bond or wait for a burglary trial in jail.
Without hesitation, he opted for the second alternative, after all, his goal was to be attended by doctors for free.
“I'm a very logical person and I did all this in a calculated way,” explained Verone.
Sent to prison, within days he had his appointment scheduled. The cancer diagnosis did not come, but the existence of serious health problems was real.
Even though he wanted to remain incarcerated until he turned 62, then he could start receiving social security benefits from the government. This plan, however, was not as successful as the first.
A year after that dollar robbery, in June 2012, Verone was released.
With no material or financial assets, the American took up residence in a homeless shelter, where he would try to start life over, now cured and able to enjoy his freedom again.
Comments
Post a Comment