Death Is Not an Option: a View from a Free Medical Clinic

Bette Grey understands the plightof the uninsured. She has walked inthe shoes of those she now helps toget healthcare. She believes the lifeevents that triggered this journey wereactually blessings in disguise to notonly others but for her as well. Shecredits God with the nudges to beginthe project. No matter what directionher life took, she always was broughtback to the idea for a free clinic. While recuperating from a vital surgery, she thought about those withthe same issues who had no access to care other than through the localemergency room. And then she really thought about those who mightrefuse to go. She knew they would ultimately end up in the emergencyroom as a necessity, nearing death. She credits the ABC news program,20/20 and the segment featuring Jon BonJovi. The performer wasdedicating many dollars to a local free clinic in his community. The freeclinic in Red Bank followed the Volunteers in Medicine clinic model. Bette innocently decided to explore the internet to fi nd out about thistype of clinic. She had no intentions of doing anything further but shebelieves God had other plans. Fast forward with many meetings under her belt, she was able to open thefi fty-fi rst Volunteers in Medicine clinic. As she looks back, she believesthe lives saved are incredible, more than she ever thought. She reallythought the clinic would be more for acute illness rather than the chronicdiseases the clinic have treated. Never did she expect the seriousness of thediagnoses that would lead to the deaths of everyday folks.