Greek Health System Opts for Amputation as Money-Saver [Campaigned 4 CHANGE]

Yahoo ^ | 10/11/10 | Pericles K

[BunnySlippers]

This Saturday, one of Greece’s most respected newspapers, To Vima, reported that the nation’s largest government health insurance provider would no longer pay for special footwear for diabetes patients. Amputation is cheaper, says the Benefits Division of the state insurance provider.

Greece’s National Healthcare System was created in the early 1980s, during the tenure of Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou. Papandreou, an academic, won election under the slogan, Αλλαγή, which is the Greek word for Change.

[BunnySlippers]

Interesting that the yahoo who gave the Greeks Obamacare campaigned for "Change".

[GeronL]

Coming to America.

Did anyone see that Medicare story out of Arizona?

[BigEdLB]

I bet you plenty of Greeks are stumped by this policy.

[Red Badger]

Hey, Doc, my arm hurts when I do this......................

[Westbrook]

When Sharia Law takes over Europe, amputations will be from the neck up. That will save a lot of money for health care.

[GeronL]

lol.

Maybe the masses can rise up and nip this in the bud?

[Red Badger]

Greek Health System Opts for Amputation as Money-Saver

Hey, Doc, forget about that Viagra prescription I was asking about............

[dblshot]

LOL

[SMARTY]

Better not go to the doctor for migrains

[dblshot]

Ironic given the following: (sourced from Wikipedia)
The ancient Greeks also made important discoveries in the medical field. Hippocrates was a physician of the Classical period, and is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine. He is referred to as the "father of medicine"[23][24][25] in recognition of his lasting contributions to the field as the founder of the Hippocratic school of medicine. This intellectual school revolutionized medicine in ancient Greece, establishing it as a discipline distinct from other fields that it had traditionally been associated with (notably theurgy and philosophy), thus making medicine a profession.[26][27]

[kittymyrib]

The USA will be practicing these Civil War era treatments when this broke government takes over our health care.

[ExTexasRedhead]

Behold a model for Hussein’s DeathCare.

[darkside321]

When Sharia Law takes over Europe, amputations will be from the neck up. That will save a lot of money for health care.

---

Sharia law will not take over europe! Believe me this is granted! I may get bloddy but this will not happen.
Muslims taking over europe is a myth. Because people are forgeting the history of europe. Europe may be portrayed as a very tolerant place (politicians love to portray this PC crap far away from any reality). But in real live the people who are living here tend to dissagre ;-)
They are fed up, politicians ignored this, they have been very fed up politicians ignored this too. they told them it was allready enought 10 years ago (politicians ignored this too pretending everything is allright). Now people are starting to draw the line in the sand (still ignored by most politicians but happening all across europe). The line in the sand has been crossed! It does not need much more to explode. the clock is ticking! believe me if politicians are not willing to smell the coffee in the next years and start to deport muslims then i guarantee you that you won´t want to be a muslim living in europe when the people finally stand up. This could get really ugly! and no the muslims will not be the winners if this happens.

[Brian Kopp DPM]

As a foot surgeon (podiatrist), this article is one of the most horrifying things I've read in a long long time. Diabetic shoes prevent diabetic foot complications, and they are very effective at preventing amputations. They know that amputation has a very high five year mortality rate due to the increased cardiovascular strain. (You try walking on one leg for a while, remembering that diabetes almost always coincides with heart disease.)

Mortality in Diabetic and Nondiabetic Patients After Amputations Performed From 1990 to 1995

A 5-year follow-up study

 

Next Section

Abstract

OBJECTIVE—To compare survival rates after first amputation between patients with and without diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AAND METHODS—We performed a retrospective study of all nontraumatic amputations performed at our center in the years 1990–1995 in patients with (n = 100) and without (n = 151) diabetes. Survival status was assessed from the first amputation until 31 December 2001.

RESULTS—Altogether, 61% of the patients with and 54.3% of those without diabetes died 5.2 (4.5–5.8) and 5.3 (4.7–5.9) [mean (95% CI)] years after the first amputation, respectively (P = 0.80). Survival was not different between patients with and without diabetes after controlling for the level (major versus minor) (P = 0.67) or the cause (ischemia versus infection) of amputation (P = 0.72). No sex differences were found for survival in either study group. Independent predictors of mortality in the diabetic group were duration of diabetes (P = 0.05), history of stroke (P = 0.02), and serum creatinine level (P < 0.0001), while in the nondiabetic group independent predictors were history of stroke (P = 0.04), serum creatinine level (P = 0.005), and higher white blood cell count (P = 0.02). The peak incidence of amputations was observed in the decade of 67–76 years of age in both groups. Major amputations were more common among nondiabetic patients in all age-groups. Median hospital stay and postoperative complications were comparable between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS—All-cause mortality is high after an amputation in both diabetic and nondiabetic patients. Mortality rates, hospital stay, and postoperative complications are not different between diabetic and nondiabetic amputees. No modifiable factors, with the exception of nephropathy, were found to improve survival in amputees. Peripheral vascular disease and neuropathy are the main cause of amputations; prevention, therefore, of these complications is warranted to prevent amputations and the subsequent high mortality.

Remember, socialized medicine isn't about preventing health problems. Its about eliminating those with health problems.

[muawiyah]

Obama said surgeons made more on amputations than fitted boots: http://www.breitbart.tv/obama-doctors-choose-amputation-because-surgeons-get-paid-more-than-physicians/ So, looks like the Greek government is calling him on that story.

[spokeshave]

I seem to remember reading about a Department of Experimental Surgery located in Athens....(one to avoid)/sarc

[grumpygresh]

Amputation cheaper than footwear? I guess that means that there would be no prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, or scooters. If these people don’t have any reasonable way of ambulating they are going to get gluteal ulcers.
I guess that stents for proximal peripheral vascular disease form cause such as diabetes would also be out.

[AZLiberty]

Would you give up your leg for Hop and Change?

[seowulf]

Somethings just not quite right about this, but I can’t seem to put my finger on it.

[rawhide]

The most cost effective government option is euthanasia. No more money will ever be spent on the patient after they are snuffed.