Who's to decide the value of a life?
Winthrop-University Hospital is holding a mini-med school adult education program consisting of five classes on five consecutive Wednesdays beginning next week. Each class centers on parts of the body and how they work. Credit: Bloomberg News
A letter writer feels that Medicare should not pay for Provenge ["$93,000 for four months a bad deal for taxpayers," April 6]. This drug typically provides an average increase in life expectancy of four months to advanced prostate cancer patients. It is honorable that he would refuse this treatment and hope that the money would be used for a better purpose.
I wonder if he would be willing for forgo this therapy if it would provide him with an extra six months of life. How about an extra year? What if it were his son who suffered from the disease?
End-of-life treatment decisions are morally complicated and emotional. The writer seems to feel that this is a political issue to be decided based upon dollars and cents. He feels we should place a price tag on the value of each day of each life.
That's why I'm concerned that our politicians are making medical decisions that affect us all. As a prostate cancer survivor, I am thankful that I had insurance coverage that allowed me to make my own treatment decisions.
Michael F. Bernstein
Commack
Sarra Sounds Off Ep 36: Champs crowned in lax and flag football On the latest episode of "Sarra Sounds Off," Gregg talks with Michael Sicoli and Tess Ferguson about county champs crowned in boys and girls lacrosse, and Jared Valuzzi reports on the Long Island flag football championship.
