Posted on 08/12/2009 5:37:09 PM PDT by Kaslin
Reform: If the world's most famous physicist, Stephen Hawking, is a shining example of British health care, how is it that others in the U.K. are repeatedly denied critical care and medicine?
Much has been made of this statement in one of our Aug. 3 editorials: "People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the U.K. where the National Health Service would say the quality of life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless."
It was a bad example, and we have acknowledged that. To repeat the correction we ran shortly after the editorial ran: Hawking, who suffers from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the progressive neurodegenerative disease often referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is indeed a British subject.
We also say that not everyone suffering from a debilitating disease is Stephen Hawking, and we hope our critics would acknowledge that. Hawking is a renowned theoretical physicist, university professor and best-selling author. It is doubtful any National Health Service bureaucrat would cut him off.
Hawking, in response to a query from London's Guardian newspaper that was apparently prompted by our editorial, was quoted Tuesday as saying: "I wouldn't be here today if it were not for the NHS. I have received a large amount of high-quality treatment without which I would not have survived."
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Interesting in its implication that lesser beings would, indeed, be cut off.
It is a scary thought
Does anyone really believe Stephen Hawking is getting health care like an average Brit?
Zeke Emmanuel has written that some professions would be treated preferentially.
Zeke Emmanuel has written that some professions would be treated preferentially.
Your question is answered in the 2nd or third paragraph
Drop the over regulation of health care providers in the US and the number of MRIs will double at the very least.
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