U.K. curbs care for fat people: Local authority says obese can't have hip or knee replacements

Toronto Star ^ | December 17, 2005 | Caroline Mallan

[Don Joe]

You should live your life whatever way you want to. Just don't expect other people to subsidize it.

Do you even grasp the concept of "insurance"?

I don't think so.

It's about spreading and sharing "the risk". It's inherently about "expecting other people" to cover the cost of your loss.

Otherwise, there's no point to insuring.

If you are going to be forced to cover the cost of your loss, then you'd be a fool to pay any insurance premiums, since the only thing you'd be doing is paying to help others cover the cost of their losses.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Make it a twofer then. Joint replacement and liposuction.

[Don Joe]

"Obese or large people are as entitled to these surgeries as anyone else because they pay for the NHS (National Health Service) just like everyone else does,"

Only if you don't really bother to do all the calculations. First of all, on average, obese people are less productive than normal weight people, have lower incomes, and therefore pay less in taxes. Furthermore, "paying" for the NHS comes in two forms: paying taxes for the system's financial inflow, and making the needed effort to take care of one's own health and avoid preventable illness, so as to minimize the system's financial outflow.

Well, then, I suppose we ought to exclude the disabled and the elderly, since they are entirely "unproductive" and pay nothing to support the insurance system.

I'm thinking "Zyklon B" -- with proper anesthetic, of course (if the've got enough gold in their teeth to pay for it).

That's the end stage of the logic you outline.

A study a year or so ago found that about 50% of the total health care tab in the US is attributable to obesity. Stop covering that group and we'll be in for a huge tax cut.

Of course, we'll still take their premiums. "For the Children", donchaknow.

[HiTech RedNeck]

For crying out loud. Who's more likely to wreck the reconstructed joint anyhow, the jock or you?

[Don Joe]

Wonder if they are denying health care to HIV positive homosexuals, because it is asinine and too expensive to extend health care to those living such an unhealthy life style?

Don't be silly. Gay-Americans (or UKers, as the case may be) more than compensate for the mere millions they cost society, by the positive benefit they provide to the culture, by being role models for our youth, and by leading in various social avenues. Bleeding the economy dry is a small price to pay for the untold benefits we derive from their presence in our midst, you big silly!

[Don Joe]

For crying out loud. Who's more likely to wreck the reconstructed joint anyhow, the jock or you?

Him -- since I didn't get a reconstruction!