Health Care for Nobody
August 8, 2007 by Diva Jood
A US Court of Appeals, in its infinite wisdom arrogant stupidity,has ruled that terminally ill people do not have the right to get unapproved, potentially lifesaving treatments even when doctors determine that this path might be their best hope for survival. Since the drugs aren’t approved by the FDA yet, and are still experimental, they might KILL these dying patients, and we can’t have that. Look at everything that was done to keep Terri Schiavo alive and on a feeding tube for fifteen years. In Terri Schiavo’s case, her parents fought to keep her alive despite the diagnosis that Terri was in a persistent vegetative state and could not have any decent quality of life.
But what about someone who is terminally ill? What reason could there possibly be to deny that person potenitally life-saving drugs that are still being tested? Patients who are already dying are far more willing to take risks with experimental drugs to try and live, to choose life. What reason could there possibly be to deny them their last best hope for survival?
So families of terminally ill patients filed suit. Many of those terminally ill patients died while waiting for drugs that were still in tests. The suit said that since these patients were willing to take risks and lacked time, these patients should not be forced to wait years for potentially life saving treatments to get FDA approval. And letting these patients risk their already ending lives, they have the potential to not only recover, but to help thousands of others to live as well - if the drugs work, if side effects are minimal, the drugs could achieve approval a lot faster.
The court told the families to take their case to Congress.
However, the two dissenters said the ruling ignored the Constitution’s protection for individuals and their right to life, and instead bowed to “a dangerous brand of paternalism” that put the government’s interest first.
Recently, three former US Surgeons General testified before Congress about putting the government’s interest first. Dr. Richard Carmona, ex-Surgeon General during W’s administration, said that he was not allowed to issue reports on stem cell research; emergency contraception; sex education; nor prison, mental or global health issues. Reports on the dangers of second-hand smoke were delayed for years, while top officials tried to water down the report. Dr. Carmona said he was instructed to mention President Bush at least three times in his speeches, and was also supposed to make speeches in support of various Republican candidates. He was discouraged from attending the Special Olympics, or even mentioning the Kennedys, who are prominent in their support of the Special Olympics.
Leaders for the Abigail Alliance For Better Access To Developmental Drugs plan to take their appeal to the Supreme Court. The alliance was created and named for Abigail Burroughs, a 21 year old woman who died of cancer in 2001 after being denied access to investigational drugs that have since been approved by the FDA.
In 2003, the alliance petitioned the FDA, urging it to change its rules so that drug companies could make available to dying patients “investigational drugs” that had won preliminary approval. There is a “different risk-benefit trade-off facing patients who are terminally ill and have no other treatment options,” it said.
The FDA rebuffed the Abigail Alliance. In the best Governmental CYA form, the FDA said it needed “to maintain a strong clinical trial system” to gather evidence before approving drugs for general use. In other words, what would the FDA do if they allowed some dying person to have access to these drugs, and the person actually died? What then?
So. No embryonic stem cell research. No terminally ill people getting into drug trials. No pulling feeding tubes from people in persistent vegetative states. No access to affordable health care. No financially accessible medication. Have I missed anything?
Did I mention I have a cold, laryingitis, and I have to get ready to go to work now, because god forbid I take a sick day? Ask me about how pissed off I am today. No, don’t. It serves no useful purpose.
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First Diva…you have my sympathies for being ill…and having to go to work. And…thank you for that information. It’s always good to know and be prepared for what we are up against. Just imagine thinking for once…that our own government might just care enough about it citizens to do the right thing…but NO! Just another thing wrong with our administration stacking the deck of democracy against us poor working folks who are just trying to make a living and make those ends meet. But…THEY don’t care…THEY’VE got the best health care system going don’t they? What have THEY got to worry about eh? We’d better find ourselves a person come 2008 that believes in us enough to care to fix this mess…or we’ll all go down the health hell hole…except of course for THEM!
I think I should run for Congress just for the Health Care package they get. My birthday is Halloween, I could masquerade as an Orange County Republican, and… and…
Nah. Can’t do it.
My son’s birthday is Halloween Diva, so I know what it’s like to have THAT day..good and bad.
I have NO healthcare…none, nada zip. So this article, although heartbreaking, just tells me what I already know..the government doesn’t give a tinkers damn what anyone goes through when they are sick..or dying. Its unconscionable that we have a government like this. Sickening in fact. We are supposed to be the most powerful nation in the world yet thousands die needlessly for no reason every year.
Sicko was a movie I cried through..and it was about people that HAD insurance. Sometimes..I think I am better off..I get bad enough, I will just go to the E.R and give them a phony bullshit name..at least I will get some sort of treatment for whatever is wrong and/or killing me.
As an old broad in my mid-50’s..gasp..yes I am..its a serious issue..because I HAVE HEALTH ISSUES at this age..we all get them after a certain point. Problem is..my doctor can’t figure out what’s wrong without hundreds if not thousands of bucks in tests.
But to let people die it makes me want to take out my shotgun and pull a Dick Cheney on every asshat in Congress and the Executive Branch that allows this shit to happen.
wow…one many hugs and warm tea and honey Diva..and Dusty…we all are old broads at this point,….and getting older by the minute…thanks to the idiots in DC….I can’t say anything that does not begin with son-of a- and EFF…I am so embarrassed and horrified that this country is in such shambles we don’t take care of our people- 49 million with out basic health care…that is what it boils down to …anyways..I need to go finish my post for tomorrow…on healthcare…and Diva you done good on a shitty issue…
They only care if you can carry a weapon and fight in their wars. Then they will treat you as long as you can go back on the front lines.
They are definitely Pro Life as long as it serves their purpose. Otherwise they just tell you to STFU.
God Bless.
Ah Dusty, I so feel your pain. I went through a year of puking daily (not pregnant puke) from stress; after oodles of tests, we discovered TWO autoimmune issues - one treatable, one not so much. Primary Billiary Cirrohsis is treatable with meds that cost $50 per scrip (I need two); plus Lipitor; then the anti-depressant that helps for the Fibromyalgia; plus Prevacid - basically I spend $300 a month on drugs. And I HAVE insurance. I cried through Sicko also.
Enigma, this is my number one issue: who has the best health care policy. I put my top five over at Betmo’s place, we’re in agreement on four, but our order isn’t the same.
Anon-Paranoid - wait til I let loose on the Right Wing Cruise!
I don’t think you missed a thing, Diva…this whole issue is nothing but a study in contradictions and dubious values. What kills me about the FDA is that it has pushed through a number of drugs that ended up having potentially life-threatening complications…adequate research simply was not done. There is no reason at all to deny terminal patients access to potentially life-SAVING drugs, particularly if they are willing to take the risk. Did anybody ever hear of asking them to sign a waiver?
I hope you’re feeling better today…did you take Dr. Enigma’s advice? =)
Bluegrrrrl, these folks have such contradictary standards it just baffles me.
Today I sound like Froggy the Gremlin. Off to work now.