On 13 Sep 2010 at 10:53, Krimel wrote: > [Platt] > DA: I mean, what are we to do with the NHS? How can you put a value in > pounds, > shillings and pence on an individual life? There was a case with a bowel > cancer > drug -- if you gave that drug, which costs several thousand pounds, it > continued life for six weeks on. How can you make that decision?" > > How would the MOQ make that decision? There's no direct answer that I can > find > in Pirsig's writings. I presume that if the patient was of sound mind and, > from > his past history, could potentially offer something of intellectual value > during the remaining six or so weeks of his life, he should receive the > drug. > Otherwise, the social value of his life would rule which, as the Giant would > > judge, isn't worth a pence. Biologically the poor soul would be best > recycled. > > What's really horrendous about the question is that in the NHS and now > potentially in the U.S. such questions are all too real with life and death > decisions in the hands of a government committee, i.e., a death panel. I > don't > know about you, but the thought of my government determining whether I live > or > die makes me sick. It's as if Joe Stalin was resurrected. > > When you surrender such personal decisions to the government, not only is > your > life threatened, but DQ, the creative force of evolution, dies, too. > Perhaps, > the MOQ answer is just that -- take responsibility for your own life so DQ > can > flourish. > > [Krimel] > Odd, question. Has it occurred to you that these kinds of decisions until > recently have been relegated to the private sector where the decision was > left in the hands of those who stand to profit directly from withholding > such treatments. You really think that giving the power of life and death to > private corporations is "moral" in any sense of the term? > > At least the government is set up to act in the public interest and is > accountable to the people. Neither is true of the private sector, in fact > quite the reverse is true there.
[Platt] As you know, those privately insured who object to the insurer's decision can appeal to the courts for redress. What can the individual do if the NHS panel decides that one's life should not receive medical treatment? Is there an appeal process? Further, I would remind you that in a free market economy, private insurance is available that pays for major medical expenses. In any case, the moral question remains -- who decides when to pull the plug? What do you think the MOQ says? What do you say? Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org/md/archives.html
