Posted on 12/02/2001 4:15:15 AM PST by sarcasm
Edited on 04/13/2004 2:39:08 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
Imagine visiting your 85-year-old mother in the hospital after she has a debilitating stroke. You find out that, in order to survive, she requires a feeding tube and antibiotics to fight an infection. She once told you that no matter what happened, she wants to live.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
In any socialized medicine system, this MUST happen.
I'm willing to bet that this is now widespread in Oregon, as well. My own father, who lived in Oregon since 1938, and whose only insurance was Medicare, was sent home to die of emphysima in 1997. Indeed, this is already the norm in much of Europe. There was a flurry of stories about it recently from The Netherlands, and I think two years ago in England the press discovered that many hospitals were quietly letting many people on NHC die without treatment.
So if they need a bed, they can just kick you so to speak. Ummmmm...interesting concept. Shall we use a "first-in, first-out" method?
The Hippocratic Oath
5th Century B.C.
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I swear by Apollo the physician, by Aesculapius, and Health, and All-heal, and all the gods and goddesses, that according to my ability and my judgement, I will keep this Oath and this stipulation--to reckon him who taught me this Art equally dear to me as my parents, to share my substance with him, and relieve his necessities if required; to look upon his offspring in the same footing as my own brothers, and to teach them this Art, if they wish to learn it, without fee or stipulation; and that by precept, lecture, and every mode of instruction, I will impart a knowledge of the Art to my own sons, and of my teachers, and to disciples bound by a stipulation and oath according to the law of medicine, but to none others.
I will follow that system or regimen which, according to my ability and judgement, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous.
I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked, nor suggest any such counsel; and in like manner I will not give to a woman a pessary to produce abortion.
With purity and with holiness I will pass my life and practice my Art. I will not cut persons labouring under the stone, but will leave this to be done by men who are practitioners of this work. Into whatever houses I enter, I will go into them for the benefit of the sick, and will abstain from every voluntary act of mischief and corruption; and, further, from the seduction of females or males, of freemen and slaves.
Whatever, in connection with my professional service, or not in connection with it, I see or hear, in the life of men, which ought not to be spoken of abroad, I will not divulge, as reckoning that all such should be kept secret.
While I continue to keep this Oath unviolated, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and the practice of the Art, respected by all men, in all times. But should I trespass and violate this Oath, may the reverse be my lot.
While in Wales, I visited family dying in hospital of kidney disease. A former RN, I was shocked and appalled to see the ward (!) using NO medical equipment save for catheter bags and NO medical proceedures.
A patient in street clothes was unable to lift the metal lid on his meal or uncap his juice due to palsy. I helped him as there were no aides, no nurses in evidence. When I inquired about him the next day, he had died.
Britain's system is essentially preventative - not curative. They have been rationing medical care for some time. My cousin was asked to forego dialysis due to his age (85) but would not as he was a vicar.
Most astounding was the total acceptance with which all this was taken. This is how it is. Hospitals have become places for people to go and die.
Remind me not to go there.
While I was there, the local NHC dentist had a patient die while under a general anesthetic during oral surgery. That was his sixth patient to die under anesthesia in five years. Did he lose his license, maybe go to jail? No, because of the adverse publicity, he was kicked out of the National Heath Care system. That's all, he just had to go into private practice. He also kept his license to use general anesthetics, but with his history, who would want him to?
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