Conjoined Twins National Fever - My Question

N/A | 09/06/02 | Self

[KansasConservative1]

I was watching the news today and noticed yet another case of conjoined twins undergoing separation surgery. I must first lay some groundwork about myself prior to making my statements. I am a father. I would never hesitate to give my life for my child. With that out of the way, I have noticed several highly publicized separations and also have taken note of the cost. In the case of the kids that were joined at the head, they were talking about 20+ doctors over 2 days (or something close). They never mention the cost, but I assume (based on what my family doc costs) that we are talking big coin. I also have noticed that all the cases, excluding the most recent, are foreign nationals. I would like to know several questions from people in the medical community;

1) Are they undertaking this high risk surgery for science, good will or just to raise money via publicity?

2) Are the doctors that spend this large amount of time (pro-bono I assume) donating an equal amount to Americans that need yet cannot afford their services?

3) Are the hospitals (if pro-bono) donating an equal amount to Americans that need yet cannot afford their services?

4) Is the U.S. Government paying for any of this, especially in the case of the foreign nationals?

These are honest questions but I am bracing for flaming anyway.

[homeschool mama]

**2) Are the doctors that spend this large amount of time (pro-bono I assume) donating an equal amount to Americans that need yet cannot afford their services? **

My doc does. :o)

[Phantom Lord]

While these operations get big publicity, their numbers are actually very very rare. Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia has done the most seperations, and they have done a total of 14 in 50 years.

How they are financed is a question I have no idea about.

[OldFriend]

I totally support these operations both from a humanitarian point of view and for the information gained from such surgeries.

[skip2myloo]

In LA, for the Guatemalan Twins, the surgeons, nurses involved -- donated their time. Beyond that, the costs have been reported at $1.5M, which was donated by a charity set up specifically for these kinds of cases.

Worth every penny in my view.

[dawn53]

I totally support these operations both from a humanitarian point of view and for the information gained from such surgeries

Ditto!

It's a chance to do a valuable service for the children and the parents, plus learn and try new techniques that might help in other "normal" surgical procedures in the future.

[KansasConservative1]

I appreciate your views. I suppose these are such a drop in the bucket and furthermore they are paid for by private funds, I really have no argument against supporting these activities. Thanks

[gcruse]

It's sure making it difficult to put together a good circus sideshow, though. ;)

[FITZ]

I think they probably learn alot. There's a lot of foreign citizens accepted into cancer research too where they get the latest drugs but it's valuable to have the research. The terrible costs to US taxpayers and hospitals is in providing routine healthcare to millions of foreigners coming to get it free.