Tantalizing Treatment, and Heartbreaking Swings
Most of the comments in the Times were very positive, congratulating her son on his valiant effort to save his mother's life. Mine was one of the few negative comments:
I've had breast cancer and my husband died of pancreatic cancer so the tale of trying to save the life of Mrs. McDaniel shouldn't arouse such negative feelings in me, but it does. We live in a country where people without medical insurance die of cancers every day for which we have drugs and treatment that can save them. Many of them are middle aged, with young children. The story of the McDaniel family is the story of this country, and there's nothing ennobling about that story. If you have money you have a chance. If not, don't expect to get treated beyond the superficial at your local ER. The above being said, my sympathies to the McDaniel family. None of us want to lose those we love.
Someone recently told me that I'm a curmudgeon (a bad-tempered surely person) basing his view on my blogs, and I suppose there's a certain truth to that. But what else can one be in this totally self-centered world we occupy? What is there to celebrate about a son trying to save his mother's life, when it was done through power, influence, money, and information that the vast majority of Americans don't have. Of course, if she were a member of my family and I had the money and power I'd do the same but I wouldn't expect to be celebrated for it, or merit a three page article in the New York Times. We are all selfish about those we love, but let's not celebrate our selfish natures. The only good news I noted was that more people recommended my comment than most of the others, so apparently there are many readers who agree with me. Health care should not be a rich man's privilege.
I've had breast cancer and my husband died of pancreatic cancer so the tale of trying to save the life of Mrs. McDaniel shouldn't arouse such negative feelings in me, but it does. We live in a country where people without medical insurance die of cancers every day for which we have drugs and treatment that can save them. Many of them are middle aged, with young children. The story of the McDaniel family is the story of this country, and there's nothing ennobling about that story. If you have money you have a chance. If not, don't expect to get treated beyond the superficial at your local ER. The above being said, my sympathies to the McDaniel family. None of us want to lose those we love.
Someone recently told me that I'm a curmudgeon (a bad-tempered surely person) basing his view on my blogs, and I suppose there's a certain truth to that. But what else can one be in this totally self-centered world we occupy? What is there to celebrate about a son trying to save his mother's life, when it was done through power, influence, money, and information that the vast majority of Americans don't have. Of course, if she were a member of my family and I had the money and power I'd do the same but I wouldn't expect to be celebrated for it, or merit a three page article in the New York Times. We are all selfish about those we love, but let's not celebrate our selfish natures. The only good news I noted was that more people recommended my comment than most of the others, so apparently there are many readers who agree with me. Health care should not be a rich man's privilege.
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