Comments on: The Burning Question http://ditchdoc.unzilla.com/2007/03/22/the-crime-beat/ Good Medicine in Bad Places Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:57:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: bt http://ditchdoc.unzilla.com/2007/03/22/the-crime-beat/comment-page-1/#comment-838 bt Tue, 10 Apr 2007 19:51:44 +0000 http://unzilla.com/bt/?p=183#comment-838 Hi Tina, Sorry, didn't notice your comment until I'd written the next two posts. One thing I must point out is the difference between the junkie and the mother: the junkie's present lack of health can be dealt with in complete abstraction from how he got there. He broke the law before entering the hospital. In the case above though, we're talking about mothers asking doctors to help them in the very act of breaking the law. This is of course a moot point, as the law has been struck down, but the distinction comes up over and over again in a lot of other contexts, so I think it's worth clarifying. Anyway, talk to you soon, and thanks for writing. Has been a while, hasn't it? Hi Tina,

Sorry, didn’t notice your comment until I’d written the next two posts. One thing I must point out is the difference between the junkie and the mother: the junkie’s present lack of health can be dealt with in complete abstraction from how he got there. He broke the law before entering the hospital. In the case above though, we’re talking about mothers asking doctors to help them in the very act of breaking the law. This is of course a moot point, as the law has been struck down, but the distinction comes up over and over again in a lot of other contexts, so I think it’s worth clarifying. Anyway, talk to you soon, and thanks for writing. Has been a while, hasn’t it?

]]> By: tinaquer http://ditchdoc.unzilla.com/2007/03/22/the-crime-beat/comment-page-1/#comment-806 tinaquer Thu, 05 Apr 2007 16:52:48 +0000 http://unzilla.com/bt/?p=183#comment-806 i think the key part is that the pregnancy is for some reason endangering the life of the mother. which is sort of a personal question: would you die for your unborn child (who might not have a quality of life of its own either due to deformity or the fact that its mother died during childbirth) or wouldn't you? it would tear me apart but i don't think i would. also, what's great difference between what animals and humans in the fashion that everyone when it comes down to it requires some notion of self-preservation? and another thing about the criminal code (legal) and medical practice (health): human health supercedes legalities, if you ask me. i'd give a junkie health care because they're a person, not withhold it because they're breaking the law. hi ben, by the way, it's been a while, no? i'm still arguing my point as a friend. i found the letter you wrote me a bit ago, and it brought back memories and a few gushy tears to mine eyes. i think the key part is that the pregnancy is for some reason endangering the life of the mother. which is sort of a personal question: would you die for your unborn child (who might not have a quality of life of its own either due to deformity or the fact that its mother died during childbirth) or wouldn’t you?
it would tear me apart but i don’t think i would.
also, what’s great difference between what animals and humans in the fashion that everyone when it comes down to it requires some notion of self-preservation?
and another thing about the criminal code (legal) and medical practice (health): human health supercedes legalities, if you ask me. i’d give a junkie health care because they’re a person, not withhold it because they’re breaking the law.

hi ben, by the way, it’s been a while, no? i’m still arguing my point as a friend. i found the letter you wrote me a bit ago, and it brought back memories and a few gushy tears to mine eyes.

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