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The Price of Life

The Price of Life

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NICE, the organization that determines whether health care options are cost-effective in the UK has decided that $22,750 is the maximum it will pay to extend someone's life by 6 months, with a whole year worth $45,500.

As I calculate it, then, a baby expected to live 75 years is worth $3,412,500, while someone who is 30 with the same life expectancy is worth $2,047,500, but a 70 year old only $227,500.

Doesn't this somehow say that old people are "worth less"?

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Depends on what's the price of their organs in the black market.

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Originally posted by spruce112358
Doesn't this somehow say that old people are "worth less"?
Your analysis says that every year of life is worth the same, regardless whether you're a baby or a senior citizen.

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Originally posted by spruce112358

Doesn't this somehow say that old people are "worth less"?
Yes. This is true. You may claim that human life is invaluable but this cannot consistently hold as long as you can save them as cheaply as we can now; e.g. by supplying aids drugs to all.

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Originally posted by KazetNagorra
Yes. This is true. You may claim that human life is invaluable but this cannot consistently hold as long as you can save them as cheaply as we can now; e.g. by supplying aids drugs to all.
This post suggests to me that you don't value human life much. You think it's cheap to save AIDS patients, yet somehow, you're not buying them all their meds. Clearly you don't think their lives are very valuable.

In fact I think that these meds are NOT that cheap, but you think that they're cheap as long as someone else pays for them.

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Originally posted by AThousandYoung
This post suggests to me that you don't value human life much. You think it's cheap to save AIDS patients, yet somehow, you're not buying them all their meds. Clearly you don't think their lives are very valuable.

In fact I think that these meds are NOT that cheap, but you think that they're cheap as long as someone else pays for them.
I'll be carrying a 17 in, bayonet when i visit my Nat'l health care doc so, when he says there's no more money for old farts, i'll shove it down his throat and crank his head off.

GRANNY.

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Originally posted by smw6869
I'll be carrying a 17 in, bayonet when i visit my Nat'l health care doc so, when he says there's no more money for old farts, i'll shove it down his throat and crank his head off.

GRANNY.
Grannies value in national health care terms: $30,000

Bayonet used to attack doctor: $350

Shoving bayonet down doctors throat for throwing Grannie to the curb because she is no longer of any value to society: Priceless.

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Originally posted by Palynka
Your analysis says that every year of life is worth the same, regardless whether you're a baby or a senior citizen.
Well, I can't find the article now. But I recall that after consulting with some sort of patient advocacy group they had decided not to value a year of life any differently based on age.

Of course, there is the 'quality-adjusted' life-year concept, too, which means that a year in severe pain/nausea is not worth as much as a year in good health.

But such an adjustment is going to work against the old, whose health is generally worse; so if you increase the value of "younger" years, then The Old become even less "valuable".

Quite a difference from societies where the old were honored and revered...

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Originally posted by AThousandYoung
This post suggests to me that you don't value human life much. You think it's cheap to save AIDS patients, yet somehow, you're not buying them all their meds. Clearly you don't think their lives are very valuable.

In fact I think that these meds are NOT that cheap, but you think that they're cheap as long as someone else pays for them.
These meds are that cheap.

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Age has nothing to do with it, your analysis is faulty. Whether you're 6 months old or 100 years old, the cost to extend life by 6 months has a cap. Doesn't mean they can keep doing it indefinately.

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Originally posted by KazetNagorra
These meds are that cheap.
Cool, how many people are you buying meds for? If they're that cheap why haven't you provided them for everyone?

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Originally posted by AThousandYoung
Cool, how many people are you buying meds for? If they're that cheap why haven't you provided them for everyone?
I think the western world should provide them; however I cannot force all the governments to do so, all I can do is vote in Dutch and EU elections.

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Originally posted by spruce112358
NICE, the organization that determines whether health care options are cost-effective in the UK has decided that $22,750 is the maximum it will pay to extend someone's life by 6 months, with a whole year worth $45,500.

As I calculate it, then, a baby expected to live 75 years is worth $3,412,500, while someone who is 30 with the same life expectancy ...[text shortened]... t a 70 year old only $227,500.

Doesn't this somehow say that old people are "worth less"?
In Economic teerms, old people are worth less then young people due to the future rate of return on investment (I know its sounds bad)

The reality is that they do need to put limits as the "old pop" is growing and resourcess / money are limited in the NHS, so some tough choices have to be made

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Originally posted by smw6869
I'll be carrying a 17 in, bayonet when i visit my Nat'l health care doc so, when he says there's no more money for old farts, i'll shove it down his throat and crank his head off.

GRANNY.
Well said!
See? Even we can agree on some things. 🙂

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Originally posted by PinkFloyd
Well said!
See? Even we can agree on some things. 🙂
My daughter would crank you docs head off for you. She was an ant in Iraq for 15 months. She did a lot of head cranking (on innocent civilians) just ask Obama. Get my meaning yet?

GRANNY.