[extropy-chat] Who Gets Expensive Treatments Under Socialism? (was Cryonics is the only option?)

[MB]

>
> ### Absolutely incorrect. The US governments spend more per person on
> healthcare for the uninsured than most European systems spend on the
> insured there, so (unfortunately, in my opinion) everybody here gets
> expensive treatments, whether life-saving or not.
>

I'm inclined to agree with this. Anecdotal evidence:

A friend who was unemployed and living on government handouts was diagnosed with
multiple myeloma (sp?) and received weeks of in-hospital care (and surgery), weeks
of recovery in a skilled nursing facility, a couple of months of in-home care,
visits from rehab and therapy, continuing treatments and eventually died at home, no
improvements over a many month span. And no money spent by her whatsoever, as she
had none.

I kinda think I'd have refused all treatment but for pain management or a visit with
Dr. Kevorkian. I couldn't tell that she was ever "better" at all, only suffering
greatly - from the disease *and* the treatments.

I realize this is counter to the Extropian way, but damn, folks, when it's over it's
over. Until we can stop "body life" on demand, *before* the brain is affected, and
then do uploads or some other magic....  :(

Regards,
MB