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Politics : A US National Health Care System? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Lane3 who wrote (8323)	8/17/2009 7:35:19 PM
From: John Koligman	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42652

"I have a couple of ninety-something aunts who got knee replacements in their eighties. They're pretty frisky. One is still working (to support her shiftless daughter and grandson)." Lane, a ninety something aunt supporting her daughter? You better get over there and kick some butt!! Best regards, John <ggg>

To: Lane3 who wrote (8323)	8/18/2009 7:42:39 AM
From: Brumar89	4 Recommendations Respond to of 42652

My Dad got knee replacements in his 80's and its kept him active and healthier. Without them he'd likely have deteriorated and might be dead now. I can't believe they're doing knee replacements on people who would be bedridden anyway. Sounds like a false issue raised by people who just want to deny care to old folks to save money.

To: Lane3 who wrote (8323)	8/18/2009 9:43:32 AM
From: i-node	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 42652

>>> Seems to me that those knee replacements were worthwhile. I don't even think anyone is talking about this kind of treatment being discontinued. I would hope. Knee replacements cost a total of maybe 12B/year and they do an awful lot to enhance quality of life and reduce costs by virtue of increasing independence and keeping people out of nursing homes for longer. It gets into a tricky area. Because knee replacements are recommended for younger people -- you need to be 60 to have one, since they may not last but 20 years. So, there is a 20 year window where they're typically done. So what the author of the article is really saying is that we should gamble that 60 years olds are going to live long enough to warrant the surgery while 80 year olds are worth a roll of the dice, even though they may be healthy enough to live for 10 years or more. Were I a physician I would be disgusted by this kind of talk because it seemingly runs counter to what their life's work is about.