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Tuesday, September 29, 2009

So true ...


6 comments:

Chuck said...

Amen to that !! Too funny.

Anonymous said...

Sad but true.

Anonymous said...

Interesting. Fortunately, for you, the reason you got a transplant is b/c of a democratized organ allocation system. If the for profit insurance companies keep going the current route, only the very rich will have access. I hope you have 1) a ton of money or 2) do not need another heart.

The Second Chance Sheepdog said...

No. I received a heart transplant because a man I never met was kind and thoughtful enough to be an organ donor. He gave me and several others a second chance to live because he was a good man. The "democratized transplant allocation system", as you call it and the for profit insurance companies had nothing to do with it. Obviously, you do not understand how the transplant allocation system that has been instrumental in saving thousands of lives actually works. Maybe you should do your homework before you make a statement like this. To not do so only makes you look like an idiot and a jerk.

Anonymous said...

I have. I work in the field nationally. The waiting list is designed by UNOS to be democratic (i.e. regardless of race, money, ethnicity) in allocating organs. This is a system that no matter who you are and whether you have insurance, you are entitled to have access to. This is unlike the current "debate" about health care in which the insurance companies (and republican henchmen) would like to restrict access to health care for a multitude of reasons - all because they want to cut expenses and increase profits - at the risk of lives of individuals. It is likely that in the future, paying cash for transplants if one needs one will be the only way one could have access. Insurance companies deny them - or sometimes just the antirejection medications - all the time. Watch out! They might come for you.

Btw, I do agree with you that your donor was a very generous and giving man. We should all take a cue from him and provide access to medical care - to life - to all citizens of America regardless of ability to pay.

The Second Chance Sheepdog said...

Thank you for the comments. I think I may have misunderstood some of the things you said in your previous e-mail. Here's where it appears we agree : 1) the current system of allocating organs is pretty fair, 2) organ donors are heroes, and 3) we need to figure out a way to get more Americans, especially the "unisurable" quality, affordable healthcare insurance. However, it appears that we disagree on how best to do that. It appears you support a government-run healthcare system whereas I do not. Are the "Republican henchmen", as you call them playing politics ?? Absolutely. However, you don't have to look any further than Canada and England to see that government-run healthcare doesn't work. I do not want bureacrats determining my healthcare needs, rationing care, or not paying for the best care options. As far as future transplants go, I do not believe that they will be covered under a government run option just like the best cancer treatments aren't covered in England.

I think there's a better reform option such as allowing insurance to be sold across state lines or maybe even offering incentives or tax breaks to private insurance companies to encourage them to cover the "uninsurables" and chronically ill.