Comments on: Who Should Doctors Let Die In A Pandemic?

Report: The Very Elderly, Seriously Hurt Trauma Victims Among Those Who Wouldn't Be Treated

[toolmangler-2009]

If I was a doctor, ToolMangler, you would be at the top of the list of people to save....well, almost.:)

Posted by erasmus81 at 11:26 AM : May 05, 2008



Thank you for the ego boost, it was appreciated, you would be one of the few to take such a stance. I am not as productive as I use to be, knowlege is about the only Plus I have left. there are plenty of smarter people than I.

[kaviz]

It certainly didn''t take long for the nut cases on both parties to destroy a topic that could have been an interesting debate.

[jsilver2th]

SusanHelit: "Curing an old or already sick person may take double, quadruple the resources - no problem at all when we have enough for everyone, but a huge problem when we do not, and when we run out, everyone left over dies."

You should have been chef at the Donner Party...

[jsilver2th]

SusanHelit: "As an American, you respect martial law when it''''s needed - and in an epidemic that overwhelms the system, it is."

You must live in the ivory tower some place-

Somebody that thinks the "system" will actually protect them- look at Katrina and that is minor isolated problem-

[jsilver2th]

SusanHelit: "yet some want to call this eugenics, or say the rules favor those with money."

Come on- get a clue-

Everybody knows the rules don''t apply to the rich.

Like they say-

The law is equal in America.

If you are a homeless person or bank president that steals a loaf of bread the penalty is the same-

Oh yeah but the bank president does not need to steel a loaf of bread does he?

[jsilver2th]

These "people" are just immoral pigs- This is pretty much how they "treat" us now anyway- Thanks to the fact that our sterling MD''s never miss a tee-off time or a yacht payment our hospital are now some of the most dangerous places in the country. They shield themselves from lawsuits for good reason- all they care about is the almighty dollar.

Here''s a new rule for the rest of us on the expendable list:

Last Perons to help in any crisis: a Doctor.

Maybe we should learn how to file complaints against Doctors in your state and file every possible complaint.

[susanhelit]

Interesting how some people''s worldview gets projected into this article. The stated rules have nothing to do with money nor power, with a person''s worth or race - yet some want to call this eugenics, or say the rules favor those with money. They don''t. The talk of your age and how likely you are to survive. That''s all. Everything else in these comments is pure fantasy.

This isn''t anything unusual - these are the rules generally used on a battlefield and in any triage situation where there are not enough resources to save many critically injured people.

[thgdriver]

The choice for the medical professionals is easy. They look at your drivers license. If you are a donor, you get to die and some rich person gets your organs. The doctors get to buy a new Mercedes. Every body know this.

[owlseyewatch]

This article is written as a guideline for prekindergarten eugenicists. It''s published to put a little terror in your heart. The article reflects no US policy or law. It reflects an attitude of utter insanity. But more over, it reflects a fantasy that great learned individual have the authority to decide when, where, and how someone, they view as less than themselves, will die. There''s nothing new here. Many insane person can and does school and position themselves in professions that enable them to enjoy the authority to cripple other individuals then make the decision to end their life. That''s been going on for a long time. The problem is not with the professionally insane, but with the individual who believes that a doctor or politician has the power to make things better. To give one''s life over to professionally insane who proclaim the power to decide your state of being is foolish.

[incog-nito]

A waster of time and resource. In a pandemic situation it''s doubtful these guidelines will be followed anyway. The only true guideline is how much money you have.

[blackyowe]

What a weird subject for a piece. Doctors make calls like this all the time and the medical commuinity picks who get the transplants and all that. Basically the poor will die and the rich will live. What a stupid question.

[susanhelit]

I see some advocating first come, first serve as the only method. I wonder if they''ve really got the stomach for that. Imagine 10 doses of penacillin - the only 10 remaining in the entire hospital. First in line is a grandmother, 95, quite ill, will require all 10 doses to cure her. The next 10 people are children and teenagers and parents, all will die without the penacillin, but each only requires one dose to be cured and live a long life.

Or, we could put the grandmother against a mother - who to cure, a 95 year old, or a 35 year old? We cure the 95 year old, and they die next year of another age related issue. We cure the 35 year old, more likely than not, they''ve got another 30 years. When you are mourning your 30 year old sister, watching her children try to understand mommy isn''t coming back, how do you feel seeing that 95 year old grandmother living just one more year, while your sister''s, your mother''s 30 more years was thrown away to grant just one more year?

These guidelines are intended to consider two things - both how long the patient will live if cured, and how much the person will take to cure. Curing an old or already sick person may take double, quadruple the resources - no problem at all when we have enough for everyone, but a huge problem when we do not, and when we run out, everyone left over dies.

[susanhelit]

Yep - threaten to shoot a doctor saving lives because you don''t want your family to follow the same rules as everyone else. You think that your preferred method of assigning priority is absolutely right just because it came from your head, so you''ll threaten to kill to get it? So wrong, so selfish.

Sorry impeach_w - you''re just repeating it. As an American, you respect martial law when it''s needed - and in an epidemic that overwhelms the system, it is. To say you''ll shoot people because you can''t get what you want is not anyone''s definition of American, other than yours.

[infe5]

"If followed to a tee, such rules could exclude care for the poorest, most disadvantaged citizens who suffer disproportionately from chronic disease and disability." - posted by bobnjersey

Yeah, the poor and disadvantaged also suffer disproportionately from having to drive $hitty cars. Give me a break. If you want a better standard of living, make more money. If you can''t make more money...tough. That''s life.

[infe5]

These guidelines are logical and should be followed. However, I suspect a large number of doctors would suddenly go into "private practice" to treat wealthy individuals who happen to be on the short list. And you know what? That would be an entirely legal choice I imagine (though somewhat unethical). Why bust your back to become wealthy if you can''t pay a doctor for immediate quality healthcare? (I''m entirely serious).

[nolalou]

Note that I can''''t think of any really influential talk radio hosts on the left - there aren''''t any! Posted by oldone60

The very fact that you think radio talk show hosts are supposed to be influential only shows your own stupidity! The county is not run by talk show hosts, you jerk! It''s bad enough with George W Bush, the last thing we need is people like Rush Limbaugh running the country!

[jerr11]

Who Should Doctors Let Die In A Pandemic?


I suggest we start with the neocon crooks.

Start with Karl Rove, then ******** Cheney, then the Liar-in-Chief himself, then all those at Halliburton making a killing with the Iraq war.

[bobnjersey]

[I fail to see anything conroversial here. Sounds very reasonable. What''''s the problem?]
[Posted by sandy19731 at 02:44 PM : May 05, 2008]

(fastfact from the story above ... and it''s in bold)
If followed to a tee, such rules could exclude care for the poorest, most disadvantaged citizens who suffer disproportionately from chronic disease and disability.

[erasmus81]

"If I swam towards her she''''d slap me upside the head and tell me to rescue the kid. Now don''''t ask me to choose which one of my kids I''''d rescue..." Posted by rational_1 at 02:54 PM : May 05, 2008

Hahaha. I think most women would do the same. I know I would.

[erasmus81]

"I just don''''t know if I can find one who will care..." Posted by sjw1253 at 02:23 PM : May 05, 2008

You should be living in Canada.