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Mon 25 Dec, 2006 06:41 am
Now here's a "feel good" story. Some of us older folks will remember the name Michael DeBakey. He was the doctor who was at the forefront of many of the breakthrough heart operations that has saved countless lives over the years.
Link to Article
What I find very interesting, is that there are many doctors who are loath to operate on very elderly patients, even if they are in reasonably good health. True, Dr. DeBakey got the best of care. But his success needs to be a wake-up call for doctors, who may have given up on patients, when an intervention could have saved some lives.
What do you think?
It apears that his wife was very instrumental in convincing the physicians to perform the surgery.
Did you notice that most of the anesthesiologists contacted, didn't want to be involved with the procedure?
I certainly did. I have heard of some lousy experiences of people that I know, whose doctors would not perform certain procedures on people who were elderly, but otherwise healthy. I could start a thread just on that subject!
Phoenix--
Glad you're back to see out the old year.
My first mother-in-law lied to the plastic surgeon, lowering her age from 85 to 75 because she wanted a face lift.
He's the one who would have been eternally marked had she died on his operating table.
She didn't.
Noddy- Good for her!
I think that doctors are so afraid of malpractice suits, that many of their decisions are based on how it would affect THEM, rather than the patient, if a procedure went awry.
Phoenix--
She nearly died on the operating table and her quality of life was greatly reduced.
Of course, she was not my favorite person--in part because of her little habit of lying for her own convenience.
Noddy-
But it WAS her choice.
Phoenix--
Yes, but surely the doctor is entitled to choose not to operate on high risk patients?
Doctors have choices, too.
Yeah, you ARE right. I am just angry through a recent experience.
Noddy24 wrote:Phoenix--
Yes, but surely the doctor is entitled to choose not to operate on high risk patients?
Doctors have choices, too.
They're always worrying about lawsuits and losing their malpractice coverage.
In the case of a man of age 97-98, I'd be interested in knowing if his health insurance paid for the procedure.
Miller- I believe that I read that DeBakey was given the operation gratis.
Phoenix32890 wrote:Miller- I believe that I read that DeBakey was given the operation gratis.
I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing.
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