Major Moral Dilemma: It Started with Viagra
It is obvious even to the most casual observer (no Critical Thinking required) that we must quickly deal with the problem that medical technology has left on our door step. As a result of the success of medical technology we can prolong life ever more, every day, than the day before.
I claim that this constantly extending the prolongation of life must quickly cease; we can no longer afford such a foolish unreflective behavior.
Bruce Hardy, a British citizen and cancer victim, was refused the funds, by British health officials, for a drug that could likely prolong his life for 6 more months. The drug treatment cost was estimated to be $54,000.
His distraught wife said “Everybody should be allowed to have as much life as they can”.
“British authorities, after a storm of protest, are reconsidering their decision on the cancer drug and others.”
The introduction of the drug Viagra, by Pfizer, in 1998, panicked British health officials. They figured it might bankrupt the government’s health budget and thus placed restrictions on its use. Pfizer sued and the British government instituted a standard program, with the acronym NICE, for rationing health drugs.
“Before NICE, hospitals and clinics often came to different decisions about which drugs to buy, creating geographic disparities in care that led to outrage.”
“British Balance Benefit vs. Cost of Latest Drugs” New York Times
The Evidence Gap - British Balance Benefit vs. Cost of Latest Drugs - NYTimes.com
I have stated many times before that I was convinced that we have created a technology that is too powerful for our intellectually unsophisticated citizens to deal with. It seems to me that this particular dilemma does not require a great deal of sophistication to understand. This might be a perfect place to begin a nationwide (USA) Internet discourse directed at getting our intellectual arms around this problem and helping our government officials in an attempt to resolve this terrible dilemma.
Incidentally I am 74 years old, which I think qualifies me to push this matter without appearing to be a hypocrite.
Major Moral Dilemma: It Started with Viagra
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