Posted on 03/22/2007 7:21:08 AM PDT by Politically Correct
John Edwards vs. Babies and Moms
By Michael Fumento
The American Spectator, March 21, 2007
Copyright 2007 The American Spectator
John Edwards, being neither a woman nor a racial minority, isn't doing especially well in his campaign to become the Democratic Party's candidate for the U.S. presidency. Alas for him, if he were half as successful in campaigning for America's top job as he was as a trial lawyer, he might be sworn in tomorrow. Edwards won at least 94 cases, according to Lawyers Weekly, of which 54 netted more than $1 million each. Normally attorneys take a 40 percent cut of cases that go to trial. In his last year as a practicing attorney, 1997, he reported an adjusted gross income of $11.4 million. Of course, despite their slimy reputation, trial lawyers can be on the side of right. It just happens Edwards wasn't.
Medical malpractice was his specialty, and he reportedly tried more than 60 such cases, winning more than $1 million in over half of those. Most involved Ob/gyns. Indeed, he was so feared, according to the Center for Public Integrity, "that doctors would settle cases for millions of dollars rather than face him at trial."
Edwards' specialty was cerebral palsy, a set of permanent conditions affecting control of movement and posture that usually appear at toddler stage. There is no cure, although stem cell studies in both humans (umbilical cord cells) and rats (neural cells) have produced promising results. More than 10,000 U.S. children are diagnosed with it yearly. Edwards claimed the disease developed because negligent doctors ignored fetal heart monitors indicating the child might not be getting enough air during birth and thus failed to deliver it immediately through cesarean surgery.
Yet Edwards won his cases not because scientific evidence favored him but because of his smooth-talking "trust-me" demeanor -- and heart-wrenching pleas in which he ghoulishly sometimes pretended to be the voice of the unfortunate child crying out for justice.
It's not considered impossible that asphyxiation during birth could cause cerebral palsy; just darned unlikely. United Cerebral Palsy lists about a dozen ways to help prevent the condition. Not one mentions the birthing procedure.
A 2003 study evaluated almost 1,000 life births to see if cerebral palsy or other problems could by affected by type of birth. Conclusion: "Delivery mode (whether vaginal or cesarean delivery) was not associated with any of the outcomes that were evaluated."
Months earlier, another study observed that cerebral palsy rates have shown "no change over 30 years" despite fetal monitoring and a huge increase in the number of C-sections. Further, "The prevalence of cerebral palsy is the same or lower in underdeveloped countries than in developed nations," even though "emergency cesarean delivery based on electronic monitor data is limited or absent."
Now here's the horrible kicker: A Swedish report released in December found that emergency cesarean delivery increased the odds of cerebral palsy by a statistically significant 80 percent. It's bad for the mother, too. Another 2006 study, in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, found that moms with cesareans had more than three-and-a-half times the chance of dying shortly after childbirth than those who had vaginal delivery.
"Some of the increased risks for the mother include possible infection of the uterus and nearby pelvic organs; increased bleeding; blood clots in the legs, pelvic organs and sometimes the lungs, says the March of Dimes. Further, cesarean birth "is more painful, is more expensive, and takes longer to recover from than a vaginal birth," says the group.
But scientific reality is but a minor hurdle to slick plaintiffs lawyers like Edwards. Insurance companies fork over massive payments to plaintiffs and their lawyers, then pass the costs on to doctors in malpractice fees. In one state, annual Ob/gyn malpractice premiums have reached $250,000.
An image from the website of trial lawyers who handle cerebral palsy cases. Touching, isn't it?
Many doctors are fleeing the practice as fast as they can tie off that last umbilical cord. One in seven of fellows of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have quit obstetrics and many rural areas now have no such doctors.
Meanwhile health insurance premiums have skyrocketed, in part because doctors don't just absorb higher malpractice fees; they also pass them on.
Further, in what's called "defensive medicine," lawsuit fears increased the number of "When in doubt, cut it out" C-sections. Cesareans in the U.S. had begun dropping in the late 1980s, going as low as 22 percent of deliveries. As Edwards and friends spread fear across the Ob/gyn land, rates began to climb again. The rate is now 30.2 percent, a record high for the nation.
There are probably many reasons for the increased popularity of C-sections, before and after the Edwards era. One is that women often choose it over the pain of labor Dr. Bruce Flamm, clinical professor of Ob/gyn at UC Irvine, told me. Still, "The biggest reason is probably the litigation issue" he said.
Photos released by the Edwards campaign often feature him surrounded by his wife and kids. No doubt he loves them very much. It's too bad he thinks so little of the families of others.
Edwards made vast millions in our corrupt courts by ultimately severely injuring women and children.
I suspect this charlatan will drop out very soon. Let this vermin then crawl back into the cesspool from which he sprung.
So, then, he and his breed artificially inflate health care costs? And he's part of our government, which is trying so hard to control the costs which he, personnally, inflated?
It is a good read.
However, at noon eastern time today, Mr. Edwards may be bowing out of the White House due to a possible recurrence of his wife's cancer.
I, for one, do not agree with Mr. Edwards on just about everything he proposes. But I do hope that his wife is not ill again. That would be a shame, and I am sending her prayers. I know, she is a liberal, too, and said some really dumb things in the '04 election; but I do hope that she is all right.
I have heard that some ob/gyns are tacking an "insurance fee" on to every visit on the order of five bucks or so. This is to cover their outrageous premiums.
Really brings home that we're all paying for these ambulance chasers.
Let's hold the sympathy until we see what the press conference is actually about.
I wonder how many doctors Edwards had to contact before he found one willing to treat his wife's cancer. I visualize a doctor walking down a hospital corridor with a large 'kick me' sign on his back.
There's nothing wrong with praying for someone who has been ill.
I think Mr. Edwards is a fool, but I'm sure he loves his wife.
Oh really? Do you think he loves her enough to drop out of the race and concentrate on being supportive of her? If he doesn't, what will his kids think of him, in the future?
Yes, I do.
I won't be.
I'm not wishing for an adverse diagnosis either, but these people are just bad.
John Edwards is evil scum. Period.
His willful actions for his own benefit and the benefit of his family affect us all, and have an impact on the well being of our children:
Many doctors [OBGYN] are fleeing the practice as fast as they can
They are costing us all real money, which also affects our ability to care for our families:
health insurance premiums have skyrocketed, in part because doctors don't just absorb higher malpractice fees; they also pass them on
Every month when I write the outrageous health insurance check I think about people like John Edwards.
I blame people like him directly. Like illegal aliens, he's stealing money from me. I see no difference between the results of his courtroom actions and being held up at gunpoint. Either way the money is gone.
His wife is a willful partner in all of this, and she's produced offspring who have a high chance following in dad's footsteps. Think Al Gore.
If John Edwards got cancer and died, I'd consider it poetic justice. I wouldn't wish it on him, but I wouldn't shed a tear either.
His wife is not an innocent bystander, she's an active partner, so I feel no different about her.
All this is BEFORE you factor in his politics and how they directly impact our lives.
Think Al Gore. Again. Every time my lousy 2 gallon toilet jams, guess who I blame?
Wow. You are one bitter person.
Emotional response to an argument, thereby avoiding any effort at coherent thought, or addressing any salient points.
It's called reality, try it sometime.
The kindest thing I can say here is:
I do know I wouldn't want you watching my back in a fight, you'd be handing out flowers.
Is that Oprah I hear in the background?
You are more bitter than I thought.
I am surprised that he could even find a doctor to treat his wife as sue crazy as he is.
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