NunoftheAbove

One of the political themes of this year’s political race revolves around health care and the need to provide universal coverage similar to what is available in Great Britain. While universal coverage seems to be a laudable goal, within such a system the bureaucratic entanglements often cause delays that can mean the difference between life and death.

At the Teenage Cancer Trust’s Fifth International Conference on Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Medicine, a cancer specialist nurse recounted the story of a patient whose cancer diagnosis was delayed by the errors and delays of the NHS referral system.

“The 20-year-old visited his GP with a painless swelling in the neck; a classic symptom of Hodgkin lymphoma. The GP did the right thing and referred him straight away for an ultrasound, which showed abnormalities.

“However, the problems started with the referral pathway. His GP referred him to an ear, nose and throat team at a district general hospital and not to a cancer specialist, which is a common pathway unless cancer has already been diagnosed. The tests that were carried out would not have been able to identify a malignancy. He was given the results a month later and clearly told it was not a cancer. His symptoms worsened and he was referred for a scan, which did not take place for a further two months. The scan was abnormal and he was then referred to another general hospital for a second opinion. This took a further month for an appointment and eventually an open biopsy of the neck lump was performed which is the only way to diagnose Hodgkin lymphoma. The results of the biopsy were further delayed due to the Christmas and New Year period. He was eventually given the diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma in January this year, ten months after the first onset of his symptoms.

Read entire article here.

The young man who is now 21 (and wishes to remain anonymous) said that he first noticed the lump at the end of March last year and he went to his GP in early July. Initially he thought it was a muscle tear from playing rugby, but when it didn’t go away he went to his doctor. “During the following six months until I started treatment at the Christie, the lump grew from 2.5 x 2.5 cms to 15 x 13 cms. But apart from that, I didn’t have any other symptoms, although just as I started at the Christie I began to get night sweats.”

During that time, the patient was continually assured by his doctors that the swellings were non-cancerous.

After the correct diagnosis was made, the young man underwent chemotherapy and the expectations are that the treatment will be successful. According the the cancer specialist nurse, Ms. Sam Smith,

“We don’t know whether delays make a difference to the outcome of these patients, as we don’t have the evidence yet that their outcome would be better had they been treated promptly. But it underlines the need for making referral pathways less complicated and to have specific pathways mapped out for suspected cancer.”

As has been proven in this and other instantces, the ability to quickly assess and address problems is not the forte of any government agency. When crucial, life saving treatments are needed, do patients really want decisions about their health made by a cadre of faceless, nameless, blameless pencil pushers?

Another well-written piece from Laissez-faire Healthcare Blog pointing out why those who think they want government to provide health care don’t really know what they are asking for.

A Case Against Socialized Medicine: Part II

British officials said that allowing Mrs. Hirst and others like her to pay for extra drugs to supplement government care would violate the philosophy of the health service by giving richer patients an unfair advantage over poorer ones.

Universal healthcare is going to bring the same level of excellence to medicine that standardized testing has brought to education.

Update: After the publication of this post, Michelle Malkin also blogged on Emma Beck’s death and used the Silent No More link. I am honored that Ms. Malkin and I are on the same side of this issue and support the same organization.

Artist hanged herself after aborting her twins

Last Updated: 2:03am GMT 22/02/2008

An artist killed herself after aborting her twins when she was eight weeks pregnant, leaving a note saying: “I should never have had an abortion. I see now I would have been a good mum.”

Emma Beck was found hanging at her home in Helston, Cornwall, on Feb 1 2007. She was declared dead early the following day – her 31st birthday.

Her suicide note read: “I told everyone I didn’t want to do it, even at the hospital. I was frightened, now it is too late. I died when my babies died. I want to be with my babies: they need me, no-one else does.”

Read complete story

She saw her GP before the termination, but missed an appointment at a hospital in Penzance. She then cancelled, but later turned up to an appointment at a clinic at Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske. The counsellor was on holiday so a doctor referred Miss Beck to a pregnancy counselling telephone service eight days before carrying out the abortion when she was eight weeks pregnant, the inquest heard.

“I am satisfied that everything was done to make sure that Emma consented to the operation.

She added: “We have since appointed more counsellors so there is more holiday cover.”

Katie Gibbs, Miss Beck’s GP, told the hearing: “She was extremely distressed by the abortion procedure, and I didn’t think she ever came to terms with it.

“She had a long history of anxiety and depression. Despite my best efforts, she was not willing to see a counsellor after the termination.”

Her boss at the clinic, said: “The time that can be given to a woman by a counsellor is limited in a busy hospital.

“I am satisfied everything was done to make sure Emma was consenting to surgery. I don’t feel there was any gap in the counselling service.

Recording a verdict of suicide, Dr Carlyon said: “It is clear that a termination can have a profound effect on a woman’s life.

On-demand abortion, over-extended medical system, bureaucratic blame shifting–a recipe for disaster. There is so much that is revealed by the comments of those who were responsible for Ms. Beck’s choices both before and after the termination of the pregnancy. How devastated she must have been when she realized that sometimes in life there are no do-overs. When in doubt, err on the side of life.

My deepest condolences to Emma Beck’s family.

A Hillary Clinton campaign ad asserts that “Health care is a right, not a privilege.” Barack Obama has a plan to cover all Americans. So what can be learned from the plans already in effect in Britain and Massachusetts? The truth isn’t pretty or likely to be converted into a democratic campaign ad any time soon.

The Perils of Socialized Healthcare

The problems with medical coverage in the US are significant and important. The one solution, however, is not to turn it over to the a federal government that will only add more waste and bureaucracy to an already sick industry.

In a previous post, the subject of the antibiotic resistance MRSA bacteria was examined.

National Health Secretary Alan Johnson, announced a campaign which encourages doctors to curb the prescribing of antibiotics and has urged patients to stop demanding the drugs for illnesses which do not respond to to antimicrobials.

Using antibiotics too liberally has led to bugs such as MRSA becoming resistant to treatment with the drugs. Most colds, coughs and flu are caused by viruses, which cannot be treated with antibiotics anyway, Mr Johnson points out.

The British initiative of less pharmaceutical treatment and more proactive treatments of washing hands and avoiding contact with infectious agents is not only prudent but also an inexpensive way to curb disease and over spending in health care.