4 ms·

> I always find myself wondering why doctors don't spend more time on helping people keep their own organs functioning instead of on this kind of stuff They al

> I always find myself wondering why doctors don't spend more time on helping people keep their own organs functioning instead of on this kind of stuff They almost certainly do. It's a pure anecdote, of course, but I've had doctors in many states throughout the US and to a one, they communicate information intended to help me maintain better health as a preventative measure. If you mean that doctors should spend effort on better treatments for failing organs, there are a number of projects working in those directions right now. Basically, I'm not sure what is disturbing you.

Mz 11y ago
Basically, I'm not sure what is disturbing you. I hesitated to reply to you at all. You kind of waved off my concerns and didn't really ask a question. So I am concerned that replying is a mistake. But I seem to be damned no matter what I do when it comes to topics like this. I mean, why did you reply? The manner in which you replied seems pretty dismissive, given that I closed with a statement that I have a condition where transplants are common. But assuming you answered in good faith and just honestly don't see how bad your reply could sound to me, here is what disturbs me: If you have certain conditions, doctors don't really try to help you maintain better health. They chalk up bad outcomes to your official diagnosis and kind of wash their hands of trying harder. Then heroic interventions, like transplants, get all kinds of glowing press. When you get listed for transplant, you basically sit around waiting for someone relatively young and healthy to die tragically in an accident so you can have a second shot at life. I can't imagine the toll that takes on your psyche. That isn't a criticism of patients who accept the only option they are really being offered. But I think we can do better than that, and real quality of life is being given short shrift as medical professionals zealously pursue the "Ooh, shiny!" options that will get them impressive headlines. I also understand the pressures on them which lead to that, but it is the patients who suffer horribly because of it. It just makes me think something is very, very broken. And no one cares to even discuss that, much less try to fix it.
- oldmanjay 11y ago
  I understand that my tone seemed dismissive, and I apologize. I was dashing off the comment and didn't give it much consideration after writing it, and I probably would have rewritten the last sentence. In any case, you answered my (assumed) question, so thank you!

Mz 11y ago

Basically, I'm not sure what is disturbing you. I hesitated to reply to you at all. You kind of waved off my concerns and didn't really ask a question. So I am concerned that replying is a mistake. But I seem to be damned no matter what I do when it comes to topics like this. I mean, why did you reply? The manner in which you replied seems pretty dismissive, given that I closed with a statement that I have a condition where transplants are common. But assuming you answered in good faith and just honestly don't see how bad your reply could sound to me, here is what disturbs me: If you have certain conditions, doctors don't really try to help you maintain better health. They chalk up bad outcomes to your official diagnosis and kind of wash their hands of trying harder. Then heroic interventions, like transplants, get all kinds of glowing press. When you get listed for transplant, you basically sit around waiting for someone relatively young and healthy to die tragically in an accident so you can have a second shot at life. I can't imagine the toll that takes on your psyche. That isn't a criticism of patients who accept the only option they are really being offered. But I think we can do better than that, and real quality of life is being given short shrift as medical professionals zealously pursue the "Ooh, shiny!" options that will get them impressive headlines. I also understand the pressures on them which lead to that, but it is the patients who suffer horribly because of it. It just makes me think something is very, very broken. And no one cares to even discuss that, much less try to fix it.

oldmanjay 11y ago
I understand that my tone seemed dismissive, and I apologize. I was dashing off the comment and didn't give it much consideration after writing it, and I probably would have rewritten the last sentence. In any case, you answered my (assumed) question, so thank you!