Sometimes the doctors let you down

[Topaz]

Actor Mike Douglas is fighting throat cancer and he became aware something was wrong early this summer and went to a doctor but the doctor said they couldn't find anything but later after a biopsy cancer was found, maybe too late for Mike. He was told his cancer was cause by his drinking and smoking. Miracles do happen and hopefully Mike will get a second chance at life. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/100901/entertainment/centertainment_us_douglas

[ToadBrother]

Actor Mike Douglas is fighting throat cancer and he became aware something was wrong early this summer and went to a doctor but the doctor said they couldn't find anything but later after a biopsy cancer was found, maybe too late for Mike. He was told his cancer was cause by his drinking and smoking. Miracles do happen and hopefully Mike will get a second chance at life. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/100901/entertainment/centertainment_us_douglas

It is too bad, but medicine isn't an absolute science, and if you drink and smoke for long enough, you probably can't complain too much if you suffer the effects. I'm not sure if catching this a few weeks sooner would have made that much of a difference.

[wyly]

It is too bad, but medicine isn't an absolute science, and if you drink and smoke for long enough, you probably can't complain too much if you suffer the effects. I'm not sure if catching this a few weeks sooner would have made that much of a difference.

doubtful it would have made any difference cancer usually isn't quick growing so he's had it for awhile, if it's already spread to other areas his long term survival is somewhere between slim and none...

[wyly]

Actor Mike Douglas is fighting throat cancer and he became aware something was wrong early this summer and went to a doctor but the doctor said they couldn't find anything but later after a biopsy cancer was found, maybe too late for Mike. He was told his cancer was cause by his drinking and smoking. Miracles do happen and hopefully Mike will get a second chance at life. http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/100901/entertainment/centertainment_us_douglas

hardly the doctors fault that he spent a lifetime smoking, the fault lies with Douglas alone...

[Pliny]

Sorry to hear that. He has made some good films. Good luck, Michael!

Not that I am particularly a fan. Sixty-five, if he makes it, is too young to die when you are rich and married to Catherine Zeta-Jones -but then what is left to aspire to?

[ToadBrother]

Sorry to hear that. He has made some good films. Good luck, Michael!

Not that I am particularly a fan. Sixty-five, if he makes it, is too young to die when you are rich and married to Catherine Zeta-Jones -but then what is left to aspire to?

To me one of the saddest things about this is that Kirk Douglas may survive another one of his sons.

[ToadBrother]

Sorry to hear that. He has made some good films. Good luck, Michael!

Not that I am particularly a fan. Sixty-five, if he makes it, is too young to die when you are rich and married to Catherine Zeta-Jones -but then what is left to aspire to?

He's a skillful actor. Not as good as his father was in his heyday, but still generally I can expect a film that I can enjoy when I watch one he's in.

[Pliny]

He's a skillful actor. Not as good as his father was in his heyday, but still generally I can expect a film that I can enjoy when I watch one he's in.

I agree. You can usually expect a good film if he's involved and his acting skills aren't shabby by any means.

[Topaz]

hardly the doctors fault that he spent a lifetime smoking, the fault lies with Douglas alone...

Of course, its his fault he GOT it but, the doctors missed it the first time, which is very serious because time is of the essence with cancer especially the stage he's in.

[M.Dancer]

Of course, its his fault he GOT it but, the doctors missed it the first time, which is very serious because time is of the essence with cancer especially the stage he's in.

They didn't miss it, they did a....

He said his throat had been bothering him for a while, and a multitude of doctors put him through a battery of tests in the early summer, but had found nothing.

After a summer break, he underwent a biopsy, which revealed his advanced cancer.

Just because you see horse tracks you don't immediately assume there's zebras about.

[bloodyminded]

He's a skillful actor. Not as good as his father was in his heyday, but still generally I can expect a film that I can enjoy when I watch one he's in.

I never used to care for him, but have grown increasingly fond of his acting talent over the years. He starred in a little-watched film called Wonder Boys, which is one of the warmer and funnier movies I've seen in a long time.

And who could forget Gordon Gecko?

Edited September 4, 2010 by bloodyminded

[wyly]

Of course, its his fault he GOT it but, the doctors missed it the first time, which is very serious because time is of the essence with cancer especially the stage he's in.

you've unrealistic expectations of medical technology and probably seen too many medical drama's...not every illness is or can be diagnosed, not every illness can be cured regardless how soon you see a doctor...

[August1991]

Actor Mike Douglas is fighting throat cancer and he became aware something was wrong early this summer and went to a doctor but the doctor said they couldn't find anything but later after a biopsy cancer was found, maybe too late for Mike. He was told his cancer was cause by his drinking and smoking. Miracles do happen and hopefully Mike will get a second chance at life.

Michael lives in America, and has the money to make the chance possible.

In Canada, the choice is different:

As her father lay struggling for breath in a Toronto hospital bed, Joy Wawrzyniak pleaded with doctors to intervene and save his life.

Medical staff instead stood back and allowed the World War II veteran to die, against his wishes and to the shock of his daughter, Wawrzyniak claims in a stunning $1 million lawsuit filed this week against Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and two doctors responsible for her fathers care.

Toronto Star

Sarah Palin was correct to speak of "death panels". Someone has to make choices, and the question is who that person will be.

Edited September 5, 2010 by August1991

[bush_cheney2004]

Michael lives in America, and has the money to make the chance possible.

In Canada, the choice is different:

Holy Ambu Bag! That just sucks...no wonder Canadians of means flee to American facilities....to get every chance money can buy.

[Sir Bandelot]

Holy Ambu Bag! That just sucks...no wonder Canadians of means flee to American facilities....to get every chance money can buy.

Only the rich ones

[Bonam]

Only the rich ones

Or the ones who don't mind borrowing money or selling some property to save something much more important and valuable: their lives or those of their loved ones. I'd much rather have the choice than not have it.

Edited September 5, 2010 by Bonam

[August1991]

Only the rich ones

Someone has to make a choice. Would you prefer Soviet bureaucrats, or people who choose for themselves?

And Sir Bandelot, that ultimately is what the question becomes.

As much as the North American Left derides Sarah Palin for her ignorance, she understands basic ethical questions well.

[bush_cheney2004]

Only the rich ones

Rich in spirit....hope....or cash? As stated above, the existence of a choice is even better. Glad you won't be running any hospital near me.

[bloodyminded]

Michael lives in America, and has the money to make the chance possible.

In Canada, the choice is different:Toronto Star

Sarah Palin was correct to speak of "death panels". Someone has to make choices, and the question is who that person will be.

You mean like insurance company bureaucrats?

Edited September 5, 2010 by bloodyminded

[bloodyminded]

Or the ones who don't mind borrowing money or selling some property to save something much more important and valuable: their lives or those of their loved ones. I'd much rather have the choice than not have it.

And of course, those without the means to borrow money and who have no property...well, their lives aren't as important anyway.

[Smallc]

Sarah Palin was correct to speak of "death panels". Someone has to make choices, and the question is who that person will be.

They did something against his wishes? Not bloody likely.

[Bonam]

And of course, those without the means to borrow money and who have no property...well, their lives aren't as important anyway.

What? You want the US to provide free health tourism for all Canadians that find their treatment in Canada to be inadequate in some way? In case you missed it, the post you quoted was about classifying the types of Canadians who might go to the US to get medical treatment.

[Smallc]

The reality is, most of those people would be wasting their money. You can obtain good care in Canada. Sometimes, the waits are too long, but, overall, the system serves the populace well.

[wyly]

The reality is, most of those people would be wasting their money. You can obtain good care in Canada. Sometimes, the waits are too long, but, overall, the system serves the populace well.

personally I think all the waiting time talk is all BS, if the procedure is elective you wait your turn it's not like your going to die waiting for knee surgery...

my brother last month suddenly took ill, on a Tuesday evening he was throwing up blood, Wednesday he saw a doctor, Thursday he was admitted to a hospital, by Friday he had surgery for cancer...so where's the wait? 3 days from initial contact until surgery...if it's dire you are helped immediately...we have healthcare equal to best anywhere...

[Sir Bandelot]

The reality is, most of those people would be wasting their money. You can obtain good care in Canada. Sometimes, the waits are too long, but, overall, the system serves the populace well.

Shh, don't shatter their illusions with a little something called REALITY. That might spoil their day!