Letter - Shouldn't have to sacrifice standards for life

robert r.
Oakton, VA     10/28/2009 12:34 PM

It seems Ms Thorson's central theme is to identify and fear loss of intrinsic value of 'life' through allocation of care by arbitary standards. Actually, It goes on every day in physicians offices, dealing with alternatives to care pathways; emergency departments, evaluating and triaging the injured; surgical suites upon discovery of "inoperable" conditions and game changing situations. The example of poor little Jayden, who at 21 weeks + 5 days gestation is denied further care is wise, considering the failure of the fetus-even with the 21 Century technology-to survive. Statistically,there is less than a 15% shot that he would be physiologically and intellectually intact in four more months and L-700,000 (British Pounds) later. Intensivists (physicians working in Intensive Care) frequently employ a software prognosticator, APACHE III, that entrains all parameters of a patient's medical history, present habitus and current afflictions. Push ENTER, the program delivers a predicted outcome. I personally worked with the developers of this program in 1981 and the results, without government interference, are shocking and, shall we say...life altering. Grand Pa ain't gon'a make it. As I write, persons at many levels of health care delivery...more correctly doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists-standing at American Emergency Department doors, are conducting "Life Boat exercises" to attempt to deterine which of the H1N1 patients will meet the criteria to gain access to the few thousand ventilators. The ventilators - necessary for sustaining the youngest patients for the initial 2 to 3 days of this pandemic. Care allocation, regardless of who is paying for it could come down to priorities, based upon what baggage the patient brings with him. In a senario, read yesterday; a 35 yr old man with co-existing cystic fibrosis contracting the Swine Flu would probably be denied intensive care. Two strikes...you're out. Gulp.

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Jerry H.
Sioux Falls, SD     10/28/2009 12:14 PM

Well, Robert, Echo Press Management managed to take out some of the trash who were continually making problems here - and the main instigators don't even live here. Some never have ..... So will you be sharing some of your sage wisdom with us?

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robert r.
Oakton, VA     10/28/2009 11:34 AM

I've just returned to note that the acrimony has, seemingly, been replaced by a parting of the storm clouds and the sunshine of mature communication permitted it. A good thing. I feel a need to know the tenor of my home town with regard to social discourse. I often find it in the Echo-Press. Stop beating yourselves up.

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Lee P.
10/28/2009 10:35 AM

We're off to a start. Thank you one and all. Perhaps we can begin to enjoy discussions and differing opinions and, if nothing else, agree to disagree. I, for one, look forward to a kinder, gentler forum. Again, "thanks" for the level of effort so far.

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Kay P.
10/27/2009 11:44 PM

I agree, this is peaceful...and I certainly hope that it will remain that way indefinitely.

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larry l.
Alexandria, MN     10/27/2009 11:04 PM

I've said that soooooo many times, Richard. Maybe it will actually soak in. This IS nice and peaceful, isn't it?

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Richard O.
10/27/2009 7:24 PM

All I know is I am happy to see all the foul language has gone away. Amos is right, of course. Some people get their open invitations to continue conflict from others pushing back and giving them the attention they may not get anywhere else. Deny them the attention and they may go away. It is a calculated risk.

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LL L.
Alexandria, MN     10/27/2009 7:20 PM

I see Lesnar is sick and there will be no fight Nov. 21. wonder if he has the H1N1.

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LL L.
Alexandria, MN     10/27/2009 7:16 PM

Fine with me, Amos, but I have a feeling she isn't going to allow that for long.

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LL L.
Alexandria, MN     10/27/2009 7:15 PM

Let me re-phrase that ...I don't care now. I did care when all of those bogus Id's were causing so much trouble.

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