Steven Hawking

[LuciferSam]

Investor's Business daily claims that physicist Steven Hawking, afflicted with crippling Lou Gehrig's disease, wouldn't get necessary care in the UK. Problem is Steven Hawking is British.

Stephen Hawking likes his "Death Panel" Health Care just fine, thanks | erica's Blog

Stephen Hawking likes his "Death Panel" Health Care just fine, thanks
August 11, 2009, 2:52PM

Turns out that the world's best-known and most health-challenged physicist thinks that his single-payer health care system works just fine.

"I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for the NHS. I have received a large amount of high quality treatment without which I would not have survived." ---Stephen Hawking, August 11, 2009

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Here's the background for this comment from Mr. Hawking.

Investor's Business Daily recently wrote an editorial which contained the following statement:

"People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the U.K., where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless."

The statement has been removed from the editorial since its original publication. Apparently the rigorous research team at IBD didn't realize that Hawking is British and has been the recipient of British health care during the whole time he's lived longer than seemingly any other ALS patient!

I figured that a frequent health care user as smart as Stephen Hawking would probably have an opinion on the subject of "Death Panel" medicine, so I went on his Web site and sent him an e-mail asking him about it. His personal assistant was kind enough to forward his response, which was:

"I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for the NHS. I have received a large amount of high quality treatment without which I would not have survived."

She also said he didn't want to do interviews on the subject but does feel quite strongly about it.

So there you have it. The world's smartest sick guy isn't at all worried about his "socialized" medical care. Maybe the rest of us shouldn't be, either.

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One additional note: being a wealthy guy, Hawking may or may not have used some treatments not readily available to most people. His overall sentiment, however, remains the same--he's received high-quality care from the NHS.

 

[GoodWitch58]

excellent example of just how irrational this fight against any health care reform has become. While there are legitimate arguments for and against many of the issues, the fact remains that it could be much improved.

Perhaps the voice of reasonable people will eventually prevail.

 

[Bob]

listen to the teabags!

 

[mikecat adjuster]

Let's not name call or stereotype now

Obviously things can be done to improve the industry. I just kinda think maybe the government should only be the referee and not a player, too.

It just seems that too many employees of the state make it such a one way voting block. It can't be good when so many peoples jobs are linked to the government. Then, how do you 'take away' those entitlements if one day they are deemed excessive.

I'd like to see the government allow for only catastrophic medical insurance from employers or the private sector and I believe costs would naturally have to drop because people would not pay the high prices. I don't see why people don't recognize this as a huge part of the problem. A 3rd party payer just can't work. We need to pay for our own health care.

What if food were covered. One might not care too much if a head of lettuce cost 50 bucks because someone else was paying for it. How hard will you argue over something on your bill if someone else is paying for it. Cannot people see this point? It doesn't matter what congress comes up with, if someone else is paying for your care or service, you will not watch the costs as closely. Why is this not obvious to everyone?

 

[kkddbb]

one man claims to be alive from that system and somehow that means the entire system works? there are far more cases that would not be the case, but lets use one man because of his fame to make a political point-ya.

 

[Bob]

one man claims to be alive from that system and somehow that means the entire system works? there are far more cases that would not be the case, but lets use one man because of his fame to make a political point-ya.

investor's business daily first used hawking as the example

 

[Bob]

Let's not name call or stereotype now

Obviously things can be done to improve the industry. I just kinda think maybe the government should only be the referee and not a player, too.

It just seems that too many employees of the state make it such a one way voting block. It can't be good when so many peoples jobs are linked to the government. Then, how do you 'take away' those entitlements if one day they are deemed excessive.

I'd like to see the government allow for only catastrophic medical insurance from employers or the private sector and I believe costs would naturally have to drop because people would not pay the high prices. I don't see why people don't recognize this as a huge part of the problem. A 3rd party payer just can't work. We need to pay for our own health care.

What if food were covered. One might not care too much if a head of lettuce cost 50 bucks because someone else was paying for it. How hard will you argue over something on your bill if someone else is paying for it. Cannot people see this point? It doesn't matter what congress comes up with, if someone else is paying for your care or service, you will not watch the costs as closely. Why is this not obvious to everyone?

good example....the lettuce costs more than 50 bucks now. those currently with major medical could care less. there will be no arguing because the feds won't allow outrageous billing.

 

[lerxst]

Hawking's "level of productivity to society" is quite high, therefore....;-)

 

[Blair]

listen to the teabags!

Enough with teabag already.....geez

That's more worn out than the OctoMom's vagina!!!!

 

[hnooe]

Enough with teabag already.....geez

That's more worn out than the OctoMom's vagina!!!!

cough...