Fight for life

[simon]

Did anyone watch this show last night?

The chap at the very end of the show who had a problem with his bowel and the surgeon didn't think he'd be able to wake up from the operation, so they 'made him comfortable' and left him to die.

This chap had been on the Normandy beaches during the second world war, fighting for our country, and the best we can do for him is to make him comfortable?

Please, was it not worth trying to save his life? If someone told me, god forbid, that one of my grandparents were very ill and if we operate there's a chance they'll live, but they may not wake up from the operation, but if we do nothing then they will pass away? I'm sure I'd take the chance of a few more years, (though would I not want to be there when they passed away and not the other side of the wall to the operating theatre????........owch, my head hurts.)

Anyway, I just had this vision of the old fella last night about to board his boat to Normandy, saying "you know what, there's a chance we'll loose this war, so I'm not going!'

 

[Jheych]

Yes a cracking series that was .. very very good the way it did show how the body copes with trauma and the methods it uses to heal and fight for itself . I think last nights was poignant and touching but I guess it was also saying that the medical proffession has taken a reality check in the uk at least .

The old gentleman at the end was basically conking out , he was on 13 ( I think) tablets a day had a circulation disease in his legs and arthritis riddled him and he was 83 . I guess one has to look at the practical side of this life saving lark and the message was basically on two levels

a) He was unlikely to survive the operation due to age and the strain it would put on his heart

b) Therefore It would also not be cost effective to perform the operation and all the after-care etc that would be needed following the surgery. I suppose it was thought that the money could be spent within the health service for an operation or procedureal care of some kind that would have a chance of working .

Two more thoughts spring to mind

Firstly all the ops we saw being carried out in the USA were done with little thought about the money . Obviously as most of our cousins over the pond are expected to take out huge insurance policies to cover these sort of things then it matters not whether the op is financially viable or likely to be a success . Although like all healthcare practitioners worldwide the emphasis is on prolonging life as much as possible . It's just that the costs aren't considered to be that important to the hospital if the patient wants to go for it anyway.

Secondly were that same situation to occur in the UK in a non national health type environment say BUPA or somesuch then I guess they would have operated regardless . So I suppose the moral of the tale is we ought not to rely on the health service to look after us in our old age unless we have a good chance of making it or put another way If you dont want that sort of thing to happen take out private health insurance join BUPA or something . Sadly this is becoming a reality , and am afraid to say the National health service works but with very very tight purse strings . I guess we are expected to take this into consideration and follow the advice of our government which is "don't expect us to look after you " which seems more and more true these days .

It was a sad ending to a fantastic enlightening series but it was also showing the reality of the medical profession in this country too .

Oh and regarding the boat to Normandy thing? How I wish more people then and now would feel that way and refuse to the board the boats, planes, etc that take them to the bloody sands of war totally misguided in most cases to fight someone else's war for them .

Anyway I digress..( again) off the soapbox Jheych and stick to the thread !

cracking series when all said .

 

[simon]

I get the point about costs in the NHS, suppose it's a topic close to my heart at the min having just lost one grandparent, and being told another is very ill. So was thinking about how I'd feel in that situation.

.....How I wish more people then and now would feel that way and refuse to the board the boats, planes, etc that take them to the bloody sands of war totally misguided in most cases to fight someone else's war for them.

I'm not sure if i get what your getting at here? Maybe the war in Iraq is not our war, and nor are other confilcts, but the second world war? Which was the point I was making, I wonder where we'd be now if hero's like the chap last night hadn't boarded those boats???

 

[Jheych]

Noted response bud but not really going to get into this on this thread .It was one of my famous "asides" thinking out loud if you will ..something i do a hell of a lot of . I like other people have issues with the whole war thing but like I said this isnt the right place and its just my opinion .

My sympathies btw on what your going through it's a tough time hope you have some good friends and family to help you through the rough parts .

 

[simon]

I know the war(s) are a contentious topic and appreciate your reply.
Tanks for the kind comment too!

 

[jimbob23]

Both skilled for the most mature conclusion to a potentially incendiary debate I've yet seen on the forum.

 

[Jheych]

Cheers Jimbob

I am actually quite a nice person when you get to know me . Even tho' i can be like a little trotsky at times