Comments on: Should Government Determine the Value of Human Life?

By: Dental insurance

Dental insurance — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:48:49 +0000

I think yes, with the help of health care system they determined the value of human life..

By: EMMC

EMMC — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:10:07 +0000

This country was founded on a basis of freedom and was founded one nation under God. What gives our government the right to play God? Are we just to give in and let them rule everything? I am sure those who are sick and poor deserve the same as those who are sick and rich. The government should not have the right to choose who lives and dies based on money!! Want to fix things? Regulate the cost. If a medication cost fifty cents to produce then stop selling it for fifty dollars! There is no reason for such a high increase in cost!! My son had to have dental work. Due to his handicapped condition it was neccesary to have it done under anestesia. The hospital charged our insurance company $5000.00 and he wasn't even there over night! The doctor's fees were only around $900.00 additional including my co-pay. So when it comes down to it I guess the hospital feels the insurance provider and I should help cover the cost of other patients! Surely they didn't use that much electric and other resourses for a procedure that took roughly one hour and a thirty minute recovery. Regulate how much profit the doctors, medical centers, pharmacetical companies, and distributers can make and watch what happens! Given the choice, I would rather my vet take care of me than a doctor. My pet gets excellent care at a way lower cost yet my vet went to school just as long as my doctor. The doctor charges $100.00 per 15 minute visit, the vet charges $35.00 for the same 15 minutes! The same meds my vet sells for heart problems in dogs cost 50% less than the same meds for humans. They look exactly the same, have the same name and are used for the same reason! Check them out A few off the top of my head Enacard, Lasix, check out insulin cost do a comparison on human versus animal meds and see for yourself! My children have insurance courtesy of their father, I do not. In five years I have been to the doctor only three times. My children, two of which have recurring health issues, go about twice a month. I may need to go to the doctor more often but don't as I can not afford it on my set income. I still think that this health plan is a big mistake!!!!!!!!!!

By: james_the_second

james_the_second — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:32:36 +0000

I don't see what the problem with NICE in the UK and its cost benefit analysis is; there is not an infinite supply of money to pay for drugs and treatments, so you have to have some way to arbitrate between different things. Sometimes this means there will be decisions that upset people, but that's the way of the world – we do not live in a utopia with unlimited resources.
I'm not sure that it's a matter of the government determining the value of human life, so much as the relative value of human lives. Suppose you had two patients, and you could only treat one, and if you cured patient A, they'd die anyway in two years, and B would live for five years. It would be only rational to treat B over A, because you get a better (longer) life out of it. There are problems with NICE – quality adjusted life years can have problems when comparing the value of one life over another, particularly for the disadvantaged – but is it better to have people demanding treatment “just because”? If you were going to be absolute about the value of human life, then wouldn't it be better not to spend money on healthcare for yourself, because you could save far more lives by (eg) spending the same money on anti-malarial treatments for people in developing countries?

By: JS

JS — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 12:08:36 +0000

Some say it is not fair that if you have money you can get good health care compared to those that don't have money. We all save and spend our money as we see fit. Example: I quit smoking cigaretts when they were $1.00 a pack (hardest thing I ever quit). I have family members on welfare that smoke. My hard earned money is going for their habit. It is their choice, and they should be the ones to live with the consequences, not you. In the end we can say they lived the way they chose to.

Growing up, whenever I wanted a name brand item like Guess Jeans, my parents would say okay and I could support them during their retirement. Levis looked better and better. They saved enough money so income from investments paid for the last years of my father's life in a nursing home. He was a heavy smoker and had a stroke. He lived his life how he wanted; we pleaded with him to change his lifestyle. He did not make much money in his adult life either. My parents lived below their means and saved. No Guess Jeans, no fancy vacations, no expensive cars, but he could pay for his nursing home stay while my mother lived in their paid for home.

I get frustrated because, like my parents, I am a saver for the rainy day. I have friends with bigger and better cars, homes etc. I bet most of them don't have a bigger, better savings account. I thought I would be able to pay for my own nursing home too, but my government is going to take that choice away from me. Meanwhile, the people driving their cars into their three car garages can get a bail out and I get to pay for their nursing home.

I have a child that was diagnosed with a serious illness. We needed to travel for his treatment. The social worker informed me that if we had less than a certain amount of money saved we could get food vouchers. I explained that unemployment runs through our lives and we have a minimum of 6 months of living expenses saved (this was before I ever heard of Dave Ramsey). We were not eligible for the vouchers, but people that spend all their money were. Was that fair?

By the way, Ronald McDonald Houses do not have such a criterion. All you have to have is a sick child that needs medical care away from home to qualify. They are a lifesaver and a good charity to donate to.

By: EMMC

EMMC — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 03:38:54 +0000

As far as "aborting" a baby up to 28 weeks after birth isn't that murder??? If not then why stop there? If someone can not afford or does not want to keep their child just considder it abortion and let it be. Sick right!?!?!? Think about!!!
OK so the issue is health care. I am rich you are not. I deserve to have an extra six months because I can afford. You don't because you can't! I can pay for my own health care so I live. You can't so you die!
What is life valued at? There is no price too high to pay for that few more months, minutes, or seconds!! Imagine you have a loved one in the military or far away. You have just been told you will only live for a few days without a very expensive treatment. Your loved one is desperately trying to get home to tell you good-bye. This will be your lat chance to see them what would you do? Do you die without those last moments or "waste" your money to have them? OK, you decide to die why "waste" the money? Think about what those last few moments would have been like. Think about how your loved one feels knowing you chose not to spend the money!!!
A friend of mine recently lost his mother his words to me "I didn't get to say good-bye." Isn't it funny how that works! What peace of mind saying good-bye gives to our loved ones!
My father died of cancer. He fought 13 months. My sister stayed by his side the whole time and would not trade those months for anything. I visitted as often as I could and talked to him on the phone whenever possible. Was it worth it? Without a doubt.
My step father now has cancer. He is currently undergoing treatment. I am doing my best to cherish the time with him. How long? Who knows? No one! But we will take what we can get no matter how much the cost of time, travel or anything else! We will cherish each moment we have with him and hold the memories close as we deal with his ultimate death whether it comes tommorow or a year from now or 20 years from now. There is always the possibility of doctors and test being wrong. Treatment could always work and give us much more time.
So what is a life worth?? IT IS PRICELESS!! Ask Obama if he wouldn't pay any price to save one of his loved ones! If he says no I bet he is lying!