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Doctors know some patients needing lifesaving care won’t get it in a flu pandemic or other disaster. The gut-wrenching dilemma will be deciding who to let die.
Now, an influential group of physicians has drafted a grimly specific list of recommendations for which patients wouldn’t be treated. They include the very elderly, seriously hurt trauma victims, severely burned patients and those with severe dementia…
Public health law expert Lawrence Gostin of Georgetown University called the report an important initiative but also “a political minefield and a legal minefield.”
The recommendations would probably violate federal laws against age discrimination and disability discrimination, said Gostin, who was not on the task force.
I wonder what the standards will look like when chiseled into bureaucratic stone? After all, FEMA might be in charge.
I recall reading about stuff like this happening during those 20th century epidemics/outbreaks(Lhassa fever,ebola, etc.) in the African and Asian subcontinents.
This proposal in my opinion merely codifies the desperate measures that were taken back then by those medical personnel in the field as they tried to buy time for more help and supplies to arrive.
I recall reading about stuff like this happening during those 20th century epidemics/outbreaks(Lhassa fever,ebola, etc.) in the African and Asian subcontinents.
This proposal in my opinion merely codifies the desperate measures that were taken by those medical personnel in the field as they tried to buy time and wait for help to arrive.
Why aren’t we talking about INCREASING THE AVAILIBILITY OF HEALTH CARE FACILITIES, rather then RATIONING WHATEVER THE PRIVATE, PROFIT-MAKING “Health-Care Profiteers” want to provide ??? It should be a National Priority that in an Emergency, we have enough facilities. One way would be a National Health Care System that put a Hospital into every Neighborhood, Town, and Hamlet so care providers would know each patient !!! That’s Health Care and if the Profiteers don’t like it, TOO DAMN BAD !!!
Firefighters have been addressing this sort of scenario (Mass Casualty Incidents)for many years. It is a simple matter of resources. This is a bit different in that it doesn’t happen all at once. It is the same in that it would overrun the system. Unfortunately there is no way to serve everyone in a case like this and unfortunately it also isn’t necessarily fair. It is detrimental to everyone involved.
#28 “Flu pandemic is interesting as with unlimited funding, vaccines could be developed as the technology/science is off the shelf and well understood.”
Ummm, well, once you have a sample you can create a vaccine. Until then you are SOL. If it spreads rapidly you are in trouble. What is your point?
#35, pat,
Not quite. Most current vaccines require time to grow before they are killed off and used. Currently influenza vaccines are incubated (grown) in chicken eggs. The process is laborious and slow, requiring several months. There are no other large scale processes available, yet.
Maybe we should put some resources towards finding better, faster ways to grow vaccines.
#36 – Yes, I know how it is done. My point to booboo was that you can’t “pre” create a vaccine for a future unknown influenza outbreak.
BTW, the lag is why flu shots (according to my physician) are hit and miss. They are never sure which strain will end up spreading…
#37, pat,
Sorry, I misread your post.
I still think they should investigate new ways of manufacturing vaccine though.
As I understand these flu vaccines, you can make one today that will be some high percentage (80%–?) effective against a virus of a certain genetic strain and its close variants. That’s not done because of the argument you use.
Like any form of insurance, its wasted if not needed, and there is never enough if you do need it.
#39 – “As I understand these flu vaccines, you can make one today that will be some high percentage (80%–?) effective against a virus of a certain genetic strain and its close variants.”
Something like that. But, there are so many variants that they must wait until a spreading one appears (usually in Asia) pick one (pray that they picked correctly) and manufacture it. They get wrong as often as not.
#40–pat==thats just what I said. They/we could provide 80% protection against any pandemic but not wanting to spend the money, we will wait for the pandemic to hit before making too little vaccine too late.
Is that rational? You have to estimate how much you value money as compared to life. Right now, money wins.
#41 “They/we could provide 80% protection against any pandemic ”
No,incorrect. IF they correctly ID the “bug” (out of scores of possible strains) they can then take months to create a vaccine that is NOT 100% effective.
Any strain that will cause a pandemic will be moving VERY fast. MILLIONS will be infected BEFORE a vaccine can be created.
How Hitleresque! Lets see those over 85. Those who are mentally retarded. The cancer patient with maybe 12 months to live. They are relegated to die while such POS as pedophiles, capital murderers, illegal aliens and others who consume but contribute nothing are treated agressively.
We pride ourselves on defending those to weak to fend for their own lives. Yeah Right!
If some quack makes the decision to diss my 86 year old Father while pooring resources to some degenerate, then he/she can count on the lawsuit from Hell and I will be the proud sponsor.
It would be interesting to hear from McCain, Obama and Clinton on this one.
#43, Chucky,
If some quack makes the decision to diss my 86 year old Father while pooring resources to some degenerate, then he/she can count on the lawsuit from Hell and I will be the proud sponsor.
Right, and what will be your grounds for the lawsuit? You don’t own the health care resources and therefore have no say in their allocation.