by KYW's Kim Glovas

A new reality television program is offering surgical operations to patients who may have no other avenues left. But one renowned medical ethicist says the show "Miracle Workers" on ABC is actually a sad commentary on our national health care system.

Bioethicist Arthur Caplan, of the University of Pennsylvania, says offering cutting edge medical procedures on national television shows our health care system is broken down:

"What the show is saying if you are attractive enough young person with a really pathetic disease, a team of very attractive health care workers will spend a lot of time with you, if your'e lucky enough. Health care should be a right, in America., not a privilege.  It should be something that politicians make sure that every one of us has a basic package of care. And the system is falling apart."

Caplan says the fact is 45 million Americans have inadequate or nonexistent health care. He says the real miracle should be pressuring Congress members to provide basic medical coverage for everyone.