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Why John Edwards Is Responsible for More Unnecessary Operations Than “Greedy Doctors”
All American Blogger ^ | 7-23-09 | Duane Lester

Posted on 07/23/2009 6:52:23 AM PDT by Bodhi1

Do you know what the most often performed operation is in the United States? With heart disease being the number one killer in America, you might think it would be related to that, perhaps bypass surgery or angioplasty.

It's cesarean section. In 1965, only 4.5 percent of children were delivered via c-section. Today, 31 percent are. That's a huge increase for a procedure that was once reserved to emergency situations. And as the Los Angeles Times notes, it has resulted in "an explosion in medical bills, an increase in complications -- and a reconsideration of the cesarean as a sometimes unnecessary risk."

What is the reason for the increase? Is it greedy doctors looking for a new summer home? No, it's something far worse.

John Edwards.

The now disgraced former Senator from North Carolina made his name, and his money, as a trial lawyer. In a 1985 case, he convinced a jury that a doctor's negligence was responsible for a child's cerebral palsy. He argued that had the doctor performed a c-section earlier, the girl would not have been disabled. He went so far as to channel the girl in court for the jury:

"I have to tell you right now -- I didn't plan to talk about this -- right now I feel her, I feel her presence," he said in his record-setting 1985 lawsuit on behalf of Jennifer Campbell, born brain-damaged after being deprived of oxygen during labor. "She's inside me and she's talking to you. . . . And this is what she says to you. She says, `I don't ask for your pity. What I ask for is your strength. And I don't ask for your sympathy, but I do ask for your courage.' "

The jury awarded the plaintiff $6.5 million.

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


TOPICS: Government; Health/Medicine; Politics
KEYWORDS: greedydoctors; healthcare; johnedwards; obama

1 posted on 07/23/2009 6:52:24 AM PDT by Bodhi1
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To: Bodhi1

http://www.foxnews.com/video/index.html?playerId=videolandingpage&streamingFormat=FLASH&referralObject=7217818&referralPlaylistId=949437d0db05ed5f5b9954dc049d70b0c12f2749

We need to get this video viral so the MSM can’t ignore it any longer.


2 posted on 07/23/2009 6:55:59 AM PDT by Reagan69 (No Representation without Taxation)
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To: Bodhi1

As for all those C-sections, blame the greedy government for that. Since it takes two incomes, one to feed the government and one to feed the family, women schedule c-sections to fit their work schedules. Virtually every nurse, woman ceo, and woman lawyer uses c-section delivery.


3 posted on 07/23/2009 6:57:30 AM PDT by kittymyrib
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To: Bodhi1
Great point...and info. As a physician, allow me to also add that Obummer's comment last night about unnecessary tonsil removal was so out of line and 50 years behind the times. Tonsils are RARELY removed nowadays, and when they are, fairly strict criteria must be present (e.g., 5 or more documented strep throats/year). Wholesale removal of the tonsils stopped--for the most part--in this country in the 1960s.

Obummer is a misinformed socialist (I know--redundant).

4 posted on 07/23/2009 6:58:04 AM PDT by Pharmboy (Who ever thought we would long for the days of the Clinton administration...)
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To: Pharmboy

My dentist wanted my son’s tonsils removed, but two different doctors said they weren’t big enough, so they were left in.

The dentist may be right, but the other doctors thought it was best to leave them in.

Where’s the greed?


5 posted on 07/23/2009 7:00:40 AM PDT by Bodhi1 (Homeschools for a reason.)
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To: Pharmboy

Thanks for this info. Will be a great rebuttal point.


6 posted on 07/23/2009 7:02:09 AM PDT by Carlucci
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To: Bodhi1
Dentists must stick to teeth.

While I would never say that there are no greedy or just plain bad docs, the OVERWHELMING majority are decent men and women trying to do their absolute best. And, for the bad apples, there are now so many checks and balances on their practice habits that they cannot get away with unnecessary procedures for very long.

7 posted on 07/23/2009 7:05:10 AM PDT by Pharmboy (Who ever thought we would long for the days of the Clinton administration...)
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To: Carlucci

I am an AMA member and wrote them that I hope they are now happy seeing the president—whose health bill they support—insult, criminalize and falsely accuse our brothers and sisters who practice ENT of malfeasance and malpractice.


8 posted on 07/23/2009 7:08:09 AM PDT by Pharmboy (Who ever thought we would long for the days of the Clinton administration...)
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To: Bodhi1
Where’s the greed?

I went to my neighborhood pharmacy to get some diabetic supplies. They wanted to charge me $120. Amazon charged me $40. There's your greed.

9 posted on 07/23/2009 7:08:17 AM PDT by randog (Tap into America!)
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To: randog

She was referring to the physicians that Obummer was accusing of unnecessary surgeries. Your example could relate to any area, not only meds or diagnostics. You can get cheaper cars, electronics, etc. online than at the corner store most often. You sound like a smart shopper...and the Internet is our friend.


10 posted on 07/23/2009 7:14:22 AM PDT by Pharmboy (Who ever thought we would long for the days of the Clinton administration...)
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To: randog

Sounds like you were paying for convenience at the neighborhood pharmacy. Also, I doubt they have the buying power your Amazon vendor has.


11 posted on 07/23/2009 7:16:22 AM PDT by Bodhi1 (Homeschools for a reason.)
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To: Bodhi1
So what's to keep the pharmacy from buying from Amazon? Maybe they do and mark their products up 300%. The real kicker is that the clerk told me I could get a prescription for the supplies and only pay $50, which means my insurance company gets screwed, who in turn screws me since I pay for my own medical insurance. Same thing with my wife's BC pills. We started getting them from one of those Get-Your-Drugs-From-Canada outfits and we pay 1/3 the pharmacy cost. They're also manufactured in Germany and shipped from New Zealand, so they make a trip around the world and are still 1/3 the price of the homegrown stuff!!
12 posted on 07/23/2009 7:23:04 AM PDT by randog (Tap into America!)
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To: randog

One thing to be aware of

Many online sources sell substandard drugs i/e/ too potent, too diluted, containing contaminants and so on.

Not saying that Amazon is. just be aware of the source of the drugs & who will be responsible if a problem arises.


13 posted on 07/23/2009 7:43:50 AM PDT by KosmicKitty (WARNING: Hormonally crazed woman ahead!!)
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To: Reagan69

What we need to go viral is the general public’s awareness of the disgusting amount of damage trial law has done to medicine in this country.

As a radiologist I can tell you you’d be floored at the sheer amount of imaging that is performed solely to cover oneself in the nearly infinitely small chance that, for example, a fifteen-year old girl (you have no idea how many of these I see a day) with a headache that started two hours ago might have a brain tumor or head bleed.

So, head CT in the ER right off the bat. A little neck pain, too, maybe? Cervical spine CT. Came in for headache but after eight hours in the ER your abdomen hurts? Hmmmm...better do a CT abdomen/pelvis.

15-year old healthy female. I wish I were kidding and I wish this scenario were infrequent.

However, the ER doctor has to fear going down if he/she didn’t order an imaging test and there actually turns out to be something wrong, and the radiologist goes down too for being “negligent” in not recommending proper care.

And don’t get me started on Obama’s beloved illegal immigrants who can rack up thousands in imaging expenses within several hours.


14 posted on 07/23/2009 8:11:07 AM PDT by goose the rio
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To: randog

And if everyone just insured the catastrophic events (like you do with homeowners & car insurance) instead of “maintenance items” medicines & supplies would be more competitive & we would all save money in the long run.


15 posted on 07/23/2009 8:13:33 AM PDT by wordsofearnest (Job 19:25 As for me, I know my Redeemer lives.)
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To: KosmicKitty

Same brand, same box, same item number, same graphics.


16 posted on 07/23/2009 8:20:15 AM PDT by randog (Tap into America!)
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