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Study Suggests Forty Percent of Medicare Spending on Common Cancer Screenings Unnecessary
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-center-for-public-integrity/forty-percent-of-medicare_b_999653.htm ^ | Posted: 10/7/11 08:12 AM ET | By Rochelle Sharpe and Elizabeth Lucas, iWatch News

Posted on 11/08/2011 8:50:32 PM PST by Rabin

The 87-year-old mother did not have long to live. Her arthritic body had withered to 80 pounds. The actual exam, mother struggled to open her legs wide enough for the procedure and then lay there, quietly crying. Mother died two months later. It was totally unnecessary.

Unnecessary, perhaps, but surprisingly common. Patients (ARE) inundated by medical advertising clamor for extra tests.

(Excerpt) Read more at thecuttingedgenews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: cancerscreenings; deathpanels; healthcare; huffpo; obamacare; rationing; sourcetitlenoturl
Many Doctors engage gov and big pharma. Gross negligence, arrogance, ignorance, fear of malpractice suits or simple greed, are feeble excuses for lack of courage and commitment. Seeding common sense over to the Gov or the Docs, is not so easy to brush off.

Rab

1 posted on 11/08/2011 8:50:36 PM PST by Rabin
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To: Rabin

Are you going to back up Huffpo with Daily Kos and DU sources, to make this news from an even more credible source?


2 posted on 11/08/2011 9:04:33 PM PST by MrEdd (Heck? Geewhiz Cripes, thats the place where people who don't believe in Gosh think they aint going.)
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To: Rabin

More propaganda for death panels. We need to privatize healthcare so government can’t deny you care.


3 posted on 11/08/2011 9:08:10 PM PST by GeronL (The Right to Life came before the Right to Happiness)
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To: Rabin

All the doctors I know just do what needs to be done because they are looking out for their patient’s well being. I have only had one doctor who ever tried to talk me into an unnecessary medical test. Same goes for my 89 year old mother.


4 posted on 11/08/2011 9:13:56 PM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: Rabin
I suspect this woman could have declined care. I mean no one forced her did they? I can tell you this, Govt mandates pap smears for women over 65 ONLY if they have symptoms. Gynecological cancers are caught early now because women have regular pap smears. Cancer cells shed long before there are obvious symptoms. So women over 65 with symptoms will likely die of their cancers after the Govt mandates take effect. But the Govt doesn't care. After 65 the patient will no longer be paying into Obamacare so why would they want the elderly to live? One more thing while I'm at it, Nationalized Healthcare covers EVERYONE in the country. Legal, illegal and visitors from other countries. I bet you all didn't realize that now, did you?
5 posted on 11/08/2011 9:19:26 PM PST by originalbuckeye
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To: Rabin
Your mother had the right to say NO, but didn't know that.. I am sorry she went through the procedure..At 72 I have not had a gyn procedure due to my choice and no symtoms that would see that such a procedure was necessary...same goes for mammograms...its been 30 years...the 2 women I know that had breast cancer found it themselves via self exam. Mammograms are like having your breast slammed between 2 bricks...no thanks.

Nurse make difficult patients that's why my doctor always prescribes generic medication if I need it. One exception was a non-statin cholesterol lower drug...after 4 months the side effects put a stop to that...severe muscle weakness and on my Left arm a severe range of motion problem.. Took only a couple of weeks to clear up most of the muscle problems and a couple of months before I could actually scratch my back with that arm...just one of those people that doesn't tolerate statins or non-statin cholesterol lowering drugs...

Sometimes we have to run interference for our elderly parents...and if they don't want something done, we have to step in and firmly say no for them..

I am truly sorry your mother was given a humilating proceedure she didn't want...

6 posted on 11/08/2011 10:13:23 PM PST by goat granny
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To: originalbuckeye

Maybe she could have declined care, but why should she have to? What kind of a society do we live in that would even ask that of her?

My grandmother, of Blessed Memory, was 85 when diagnosed with cancer of the bladder and surrounding muscles, a usually fatal type- especially at her age. It killed her brother and 2 uncles. Even though her doctors thought it was fruitless, she chose aggressive treatment. She went for chemo, radiation, and surgery on her bladder.

It worked. After that, at 87, she had a knee replaced, and returned to her gardening, baking, painting her entire house, and a full, good life. She lived to 99 years of age.

I once asked her what she felt got her through. Her answer was that had a strong will ( that, we all knew...), and that she told HaShem she was not ready to go yet, and that she had no intention of leaving us all to our “own devices”.
Apparently, G-D listened........( We always knew she had a direct line to His ear).

But it proved something to us, and to her doctors- who did not think she had a snowball’s chance in Hell: The human will is a strong factor, and when combined with G-D’s will, people can heal and survive.

We never know if that potential will be a loved one’s Blessing or not, so what right do we have to withhold medical care and treatment?

My grandmother was given another 14 years of life. One in which she enjoyed her family, as we enjoyed her, and she was given time to love, and be loved by 3 great-grand children. Why would anybody want to deprive another human being of this? Apart from G-D, who would even have the right?

As far as I am concerned, with-holding health care is out right assisted murder. And for those of the Jewish faith, in accordance with the Torah, it is forbidden. You must do everything possible to sustain a life.


7 posted on 11/08/2011 10:20:31 PM PST by Never A Dull Moment
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To: Rabin

its usually the patients or their families demanding further tests,etc...more meds...physical therapy...maybe some anti depressants....all in the pursuit of a few extra miserable years OR to relieve the guilt of families that have ignored mom or dad for many years....


8 posted on 11/08/2011 11:01:39 PM PST by cherry
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To: Never A Dull Moment
I am happy for you and you grandmother, good for her.

This is all the set up for death. The Democrats love death, at least the death of others. Particularly if others deaths make their lives more convenient.

As far as medical attention goes. All information should be given to the patient. Many people at your grandmothers age may have decided that chemo surgery and other invasive treatments my have not been worth the pain and would chose to not receive it.

My point is that the decision should be left to the patient. A well informed decision.

9 posted on 11/08/2011 11:03:47 PM PST by Jim from C-Town (The government is rarely benevolent, often malevolent and never benign!)
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To: Never A Dull Moment
I think most of the things we do to lengthen the life of a very sick elderly person are insane, but when my mother was very ill with cancer, how I wish she had really fought it, taking the chemo etc.....

the truth is...even with metatasis, some people DO live thru it and survive...

I think patients should be given HOPE.....

10 posted on 11/08/2011 11:07:09 PM PST by cherry
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To: Jim from C-Town

Exactly.


11 posted on 11/08/2011 11:28:07 PM PST by Never A Dull Moment
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To: cherry

Some of it may be....... But humans cannot decide if G-D will give the Blessing of survival and healing.

The fact is, no one knows, and many lose hope. It is not an easy battle. I have been through it with too many family members. My brother has been fighting stomach cancer and Hotchkins Lymphoma since 2005. He too refuses to give up. But he made that choice, not the government.

I am sorry for your mother’s passing. May G-D heal your pain, and bring the beautiful Blessings of loving memories that bring joy into your heart. May you be comforted and bolstered by them. May G-D always be your rock and strength. Amein.


12 posted on 11/08/2011 11:40:28 PM PST by Never A Dull Moment
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To: Rabin

If only we knew what 47% are unnecessary.


13 posted on 11/09/2011 7:29:26 AM PST by stocksthatgoup (Common sense although common knowledge is seldom common practice.)
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