quote:Originally posted by teyates:
As a medical professional, I want to address some misinformation here in the post.
DiGeorge Syndrome is caused by a genetic defect of chromosome 22 (I believe). It causes a malformation of the neck and upper thorax in development which is manifested as a non-functioning or absent thymus gland, the gland which in childhood is responsible for the development of T-cells.
The reason that your proposed treatment is considered experimental is because the actual success rate with it at Duke University, where it has been done successfully, is only 25%, not the stated 98%.
Secondly, the children also have other malformations of the heart and great vessels, most of the time which will cause their lives to be shortened. It is a sad disease, and for the most part if we can figure out the genetic issues, it may can be cured in the next decade or so.
Insurance companies have ntoriously never supported "experiemtnal" procedures, because they are expensive and they often lead to complications which require additioanl treatments.
Government monies already go to research, as do the donations people give to the causes, therefore an experimental procedure should in reality be supported in that fashion. I don't write the rules, but I do wirk within them.
This child has a long road and future does not look good for him. I hope they are succesful.
How is a private health insurer denying life-saving treatment for this baby different from y'all's prediction of "Obamacare" denying lifesaving treatment to, say, an 85-year-old grandpa, whose other ailments are already accelerating his trip to heaven?
How can you guys say the defintion of "death panels" is allowing grandpa to die naturally, without extraordinary intervention that would prolong his life by a few months, but a private health insurance company denying this baby a chance at life is NOT a death panel?
Taking into consideration grandpa's other maladies, he only has a 25% chance of surviving long-term with whatever procedure; baby Seth only has a 25% chance to live if he's granted the procedure he needs. So what's the friggin' difference? How do you not see the parallel with these scenarios?