What "Bioethics" Hath Wrought
If you want to see a health care system in the thrall of mainstream bioethics thinking, look no further than the UK where bioethicists have essentially taken over the medical ethics of care provided by the government. Now,in a form of futile care theory, the National Health Service is planning to deny late stage cancer patients access to a drug that could extend their lives for months. But, this isn't seen as "cost effective." You see, many in bioethics no longer see life extending as a worthwhile medical endeavor. They have redefined this as "merely extending the dying process." And in that process we go from giving the benefit of the doubt to life, to pushing people into unwanted death.
posted by Wesley J. Smith @ 7:30 PM
5 Comments
5 Comments:
This isn't surprising considering the Brits have enough problems getting access to LIFESAVING cancer treatments, so I can see why the government healthcare system would make receiving treatments that are merely life-extending even more difficult. One example is with brachytherapy, a treatment for prostrate cancer, which has turned into a burueacratic nightmare for men seeking the treatment:
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_objectid=17495526&method=full&siteid=50082&headline=patients-left-in-the-dark-over-new-cancer-treatment--name_page.html
Liberals need to look at the situations in Britain and Canada when they propose nationalized healthcare in the US. Our system isn't perfect - but it is certainly better than theirs.
Wasn't aware of the prostate cancer issue. But the NHS is imploding, that's for sure. Thanks.
Goodness. With this sort of logic we could all be designated as "dying". After all, none of us are getting any younger. How do they define the demarcation between living and dying?
That isn't sure, but it seems to be whether there is a chance to improve or not.
It's tempting to say that it's the bean counters or some futile care theorists that are responsible for the restrictions on the medical formulary in the UK. The truth is that the health care is paid for by limited tax dollars and that if $36,000 is going to one patient, there is less available for life-saving treatments for other patients. Isn't this the nation that once restricted dialysis to those who were under 55 years old?
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home