Comments on: The Nataline case: leaving out the facts http://www.bloggernews.net/112654 High-quality English language analysis and editorial writing on the news. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:28:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Bill http://www.bloggernews.net/112654#comment-169166 Bill Thu, 27 Dec 2007 15:56:03 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/112654#comment-169166 From all reports she had been in a coma as a result of complications from prior medical procedures ("vegitative state" according to her mother) for at least 3 weeks prior to her death - she was in that coma at the time a liver was located. I am deeply skeptical that someone so sick would ever have woken up from their coma, or that she would have lasted even 6 months given the multiple organ failure she was experiencing (she had already rec'd a kidney from a relative) The main question then becomes do we as a society spend a very rare medical resource (a viable transplant organ) merely to sustain life, when there are plenty of others who could be cured via the same transplant? From all reports she had been in a coma as a result of complications from prior medical procedures (”vegitative state” according to her mother) for at least 3 weeks prior to her death - she was in that coma at the time a liver was located.

I am deeply skeptical that someone so sick would ever have woken up from their coma, or that she would have lasted even 6 months given the multiple organ failure she was experiencing (she had already rec’d a kidney from a relative)

The main question then becomes do we as a society spend a very rare medical resource (a viable transplant organ) merely to sustain life, when there are plenty of others who could be cured via the same transplant?

]]> By: Julio Soy http://www.bloggernews.net/112654#comment-168103 Julio Soy Wed, 26 Dec 2007 19:34:03 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/112654#comment-168103 One more question: Are you a shill for the insurance companies or are you planning on acting as such in the future? One more question: Are you a shill for the insurance companies or are you planning on acting as such in the future?

]]> By: Julio Soy http://www.bloggernews.net/112654#comment-168101 Julio Soy Wed, 26 Dec 2007 19:32:51 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/112654#comment-168101 Nancy, Please explain---in detail, not using vague platitudes---how "universal health care via private insurance companies" would A) Cover every single citizen, B) Cover people without enough money to buy a policy, C) Cover ill people or people with a pre-existing condition, D) Still deliver an acceptable return on investment and fat salaries for the executives at the private insurance companies. I await your detailed, specific response. Nancy,
Please explain—in detail, not using vague platitudes—how “universal health care via private insurance companies” would A) Cover every single citizen, B) Cover people without enough money to buy a policy, C) Cover ill people or people with a pre-existing condition, D) Still deliver an acceptable return on investment and fat salaries for the executives at the private insurance companies.

I await your detailed, specific response.

]]> By: Julio Soy http://www.bloggernews.net/112654#comment-168091 Julio Soy Wed, 26 Dec 2007 19:24:43 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/112654#comment-168091 Nancy, You're right. Insurance companies would never make a decision on the basis of what saves them money and increases their profits at the expense of a patient's health. We all know that return on investment is never a factor when big insurance companies make decisions. They're in business only to help people who need health care. Nancy,
You’re right. Insurance companies would never make a decision on the basis of what saves them money and increases their profits at the expense of a patient’s health. We all know that return on investment is never a factor when big insurance companies make decisions. They’re in business only to help people who need health care.

]]> By: N. Long http://www.bloggernews.net/112654#comment-167569 N. Long Wed, 26 Dec 2007 09:11:41 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/112654#comment-167569 Dear Dr. Reyes, what is an artificial liver? I've never heard of one before. I've heard of artificial kidney (ie: dialysis), but I've never heard of an artificial liver. please explain. Thank you Dear Dr. Reyes,
what is an artificial liver? I’ve never heard of one before. I’ve heard of artificial kidney (ie: dialysis), but I’ve never heard of an artificial liver. please explain. Thank you

]]> By: Michael Farrell http://www.bloggernews.net/112654#comment-167380 Michael Farrell Wed, 26 Dec 2007 05:45:28 +0000 http://www.bloggernews.net/112654#comment-167380 This unfortunate patient probably had hepatic veno-occlusive disease which, when severe, is fatal without a transplant. Transplants in this situation are not always curative but have a reasonable chance of success. Withholding a transplant insures one thing - the death of the patient. This unfortunate patient probably had hepatic veno-occlusive disease which, when severe, is fatal without a transplant. Transplants in this situation are not always curative but have a reasonable chance of success. Withholding a transplant insures one thing - the death of the patient.

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