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Medical Professionals Protest Corporate Greed At Occupy Wall Street

NEW YORK (WCBS 880) – Doctors and nurses are joining the Occupy Wall Street movement on Sunday afternoon at Zuccotti Park to share their frustration over a lack of adequate healthcare for the 99 percent.

LISTEN: WCBS 880's Monica Miller reports

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Laurie Wen, executive director of the local chapter of Physicians for a National Health Program, said they're joining the protesters because they believe the private insurance companies are making their patients sick.

"Unchecked corporate greed is making our patients sick," she said. "Social and economic inequalities are making our patients sick. And doctors and nurses are tired of practicing in a system that is so broken."

Doctors and nurses—all dressed in their scrubs and white coats—will give volunteer medical exams to everyone after the protest, Wen said.

This will be the second installment of a weekly speak-out, which started in Washington Square Park last Saturday. At Sunday's 4 p.m. rally, health professionals and patients will share personal stories on why they think America needs health care for all.

"It is a shame that the richest country in the world has 50 million people with no health insurance coverage," Wen said.

Tell us what you think about this group joining the Occupy Wall Street movement in our comments section below.

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