Replies

"Not a hoax. Just see your doctor if you get sick. No different than at any other time, right?"

Wrong. And if you're really an MD, then you know it.

With pulmonary anthrax, by the time "you get sick", you are doomed. You need to begin treatment before the symptoms appear. Thus says every medical authority I've read -- except for you. Hmm...

No different than at any other time? What gall. What amazing gall.

It's pretty cruel of you to pull a virtual-triage stunt like that here, Mr. Newbie. Um, "Dr." Newbie. Do you really -- I mean, really -- think that "avoiding panic" is worth giving people advice that can kill them? Or perhaps you're just a vengeful SOB, mad as hell about the HMO capitation system? (hey, I served on a state HMO commission, I quit in disgust, "I Feel Your Pain"(tm)) Maybe you're looking to sock it to the HMOs with the Body Count from Hell? Or maybe you're hoping the survivors of any anthrax victims that die because they took your advice will lobby the snot out of Congress to pass some HMO laws that you'll like better than the capitation system?

Or maybe you're here because it's your job?

So do tell, Dr. I-Just-Showed-Up-Today. I'm like Farmer Jones' back 40. I'm all ears.

And to nip your question in the bud, no, I'm not a doctor. And I'm not giving medical advice. I'm merely calling you on the medical advice you so arrogantly gave here on your first day of membership.

Please go review the CDC material on Anthrax. If you must, go to the USAMRID website. Thanks. I don't have time to argue with you about the pathophysiology and treatment of this bug. You are correct about Inhalational</b< anthrax. However, the most common forms of anthrax come from skin exposure.
That's why the local doctors in Palm Beach need to be the first responders (and NOT cramming hundreds into a gov't public health facility).
US military site on anthrax vaccine: http://www.anthrax.osd.mil/HTML_interface/default.html
You can read about Anthrax from CDC here: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/anthrax_g.htm

Lastly, If you were sitting on the HMO panel for California, why haven't you done more to correct the CLEAR CUT security problems involved with capitated contracting????? eom for tonight.