« "The Democrat Party" | Main | Class Consciousness »
November 22, 2006
Why We Haven't Cured The Common Cold (Or Cancer Or Aging)
According to Cato, it's due to government regulation.
You just can't make this stuff up.
November 22, 2006 | Permalink
Comments
I am not even going to read that. Let me explain something about both topics, and how this is yet again an assault on empiricism trumped by idealogy: both the common cold and cancer are not one disease they are hundreds, if not, thousands of diseases. To 'cure' these diseases will require decades of research although we have completed the human genome project, and thinks like stem cell research, and cancer vaccines for various kinds of canceres are showing promise. Just to get into the heart of the matter- lung cancer, which kills about 170,000 Americans a year, is actually itself various types of cancers, each with their own unique characteristics, and each with their own set of problems- is it undifferentiated? Is it small cell? etc. We have only in the last decade started to move beyond the therapies that have been around for 30 to 50 years, ie, chemo, surgery, radiation- to new therapies, vaccines, genes, poison pills, etc. This has come about because of basic research funded through the cancer research centers maintained through funding from the government.
On a personal note, I had to deal with this issue with regards to a family member who I was trying to get on an experimental drug protocal that had been showing promise. The problem wasn't regulation- the problem was the proprietary interest of the hospital that I was at, and the drug companies that were also involved in the research, versus the research center providing all the options, including those not at their hospital. I would later find out that the drug was approved, and did have a descent shot of helping patients with a certain protein found on the surface of the cancer cells.
I never knew that because of the private sector proprietary interests (in my opinion of the doctors). So, when they talk about this stuff through their idealogy, rather than what will maximize the best results- which is not for proof motives to be involved in which protocals people advocate (this is merely an example of how regulation would have helped).
Posted by: akaison | Nov 22, 2006 2:34:27 PM
Windley has his link posted in the Humor category, which I suspect was the intent.
Posted by: Sanpete | Nov 22, 2006 3:24:45 PM
OK, seriously: If the computer industry were running under the same conditions as biotech, this is how it would work:
I'm reminded of the old 'if your car were designed by Microsoft' e-mail. If the biotech industry were as error-prone as software development, we'd all have been wiped out by some mutant anthrax-ebola hybrid.
Posted by: Tom Hilton | Nov 22, 2006 4:51:23 PM
Having just spent the better part of the last two days dealing with my husband's health issues, all I have to say is:
Health insurance companies' own freaking creaking bureaucracies is most definitely a huge chunk of the problem.
We have Kaiser, which is widely recognized as one of the better HMOs out there. And still, trying to get treatment for my husband when he doubled over in pain yesterday has been a pain in the ass.
I won't bore all of you with the gory details, but here's a few notes: There is a non-Kaiser hospital with emergency room 1/4 of a mile from our home, so rather than drive 20 minutes down to Kaiser, I took him there. The emergency room staff, on seeing his Kaiser card, built their entire treatment plan around the fact that Kaiser has an extreme reluctance for its members to get treated anywhere else. They got him stabilized, told us he was going to need surgery, sent us home, and told us to call Kaiser.
We had a brief appointment with a gatekeeper at Kaiser today who agreed with everything we were told yesterday. And now we have to wait two weeks before we can even talk to a surgeon and find out when surgery will occur.
His condition is unlikely to be life-threatening except if some uncommon circumstances occur, so having to wait a few weeks is not the worst thing. At least we have insurance and he'll get the care he needs, although not as fast as I would like. It just really frustrates me that we have to jump through so many hoops and drive to a facility 20 miles away rather than get everything taken care of at the perfectly good hospital that's literally walking distance from our home.
Posted by: fiat lux | Nov 22, 2006 5:14:41 PM
fiat lux,
You must be mistaken. American insurance companies don't ration care; only government plans do that.
Somehow, this is all your fault.
Snark aside, I do hope that your husband is ok, and that he heals quickly and easily.
Posted by: Stephen | Nov 22, 2006 6:35:54 PM
Thanks. Sorry for the vent; I guess I needed to blow off a bit of steam.
Posted by: fiat lux | Nov 22, 2006 7:05:56 PM
Main difference between the the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Data Administration:
Computers can't kill you simply by using them the way the manufacturer intended. Not even if they're running the biggest pile of that-is-a-feature-not-a-bug software on a monstrosity made by the obscene bastard child of Dell and Gateway.
Drugs can.
We won't have to worry about this conflagration until after they come out with a consumer-friendly Direct Neural Interface.
Posted by: Off Colfax | Nov 22, 2006 8:02:55 PM
Bill Walker strikes me as someone who knows just enough to get people hurt.
Posted by: Col Bat Guano | Nov 23, 2006 12:38:20 AM
The aged people who have lost their virility after falling in the grip of erectile dysfunction can gain it back through levitra. This anti-impotency cure is definitely cheaper than all other erectile dysfunction medicines discovered so far and as such been termed as cheap levitra.You can order levitra from the comfort of your home through levitra online. After the drug Levitra is administered to the penis, it increases the flow of blood to the penis and consequently the penis becomes engorged with blood and sets off erections necessary for satisfactory physical intercourse. Levitra has a proven track record of curing erectile dysfunction in people across the world and so you can uninhibitedly buy levitra. Buy Levitra online and make your way out of male impotency.
Posted by: levitra | Dec 16, 2006 12:36:50 AM
Obesity has become one of the major issues in US nowadays. Over 50% of the population is suffering from obesity & look for easy solutions to weight loss at any cost. But you need not to pay many dollars for losing weight. You can simply buy adipex which has proved as an effective diet pill in recent years & benefited millions of people. adipex simply reduce your hunger cravings & gives you full feelings. This prevents you from eating extra calories that add up fats on your body. You can get this magical diet pill just by one click as online adipex is available at your ease. What you are thinking now? Just order adipex now & get an attractive shape with great health.
Posted by: adipex | Jan 14, 2007 11:17:07 PM
The viruses that cause the common cold can be controlled, and elimanted. The problem is time, and given the ability for the viruses that cause colds to mutate very easily and quickly.
I pin the blame on society, and ignorance of the people within it.
Posted by: Jonathan Burhan | Feb 25, 2007 4:43:19 AM
Wann machma denn die n¤chste party??? lebe lang und erfolgreich!!! :)
Posted by: Hillary | Jun 25, 2007 9:06:27 PM
I think what you are doing is great!!! I want to use your color scheme at my sites...
Posted by: Sanders | Jun 27, 2007 5:06:29 AM
Posted by: Angela | Jul 4, 2007 3:08:38 PM
As the Pfizer manufactured erectile dysfunction drug Viagra creates record in drug sales throughout the world after men in hordes opted to buy cheap viagra through viagra online, other rival drug manufacturing companies have lost their peace of mind. They are consistently trying to diminish the ever-growing Viagra popularity by spreading that excessive usage of Viagra has accelerated the prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases among men. Of, course it is true men taking Viagra for recreational means are vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases and as such if a man chooses to buy viagra from any online drug store without a Viagra prescription from the doctor, his health is totally at risk. The4proper way to combat erectile dysfunction with Viagra is to buy viagra online from an authentic drug store and administer the drug in accordance with the suggestions of the doctor.
Posted by: viagra | Aug 14, 2007 9:58:28 AM
In the ancient era, the viagra influence was nowhere to be found as the erectile dysfunction medication Viagra didn’t came into being at that time. Specific details on impotence and pre-viagra age inform us that in that period men relied on Unani, Chinese, Herbal and other medications to treat their erectile dysfunction. But with the arrival of the modern age, Viagra was manufactured and approved by the FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) as an effective treatment of erectile dysfunction and after that the drug emerged extremely successful in treating impotence in modern society. Other than erectile dysfunction, Viagra has also evolved as an effective medicine to treat pulmonary hypertension and other ailments and this has further increased the popularity of viagra in global society.
Posted by: viagra | Aug 29, 2007 5:32:12 AM
wow power leveling
wow powerleveling
cheap wow power leveling
wow power leveling
wow powerleveling
wow power lvl
Posted by: power | Sep 5, 2007 5:04:45 AM
Who is not charmed by a beautiful and curvy shape? And this desire gets more intense when you have a big flabby body. Of course you won’t like to be a gag at your friend’s party or some gathering. All what you try is different tactics and diet plans to trim down your stubborn fats. But which diet to go for? Everyday you can hear of one or the other new diet in the weight loss market which promises to give the desired results. If you are unable to decide the right one, here goes the answer! For most of the cases, low calorie diet and low sodium diet is suggested by health care professionals and dieticians. It is because these diets are found not only easier to follow but also most effective so far. However, vegetable diets are also preferred as it is healthy and stuffing where you are less likely to starve while dieting. For those who are non-vegetarian, chicken soup diet can be a delight. Other diets include peanut butter diet and popcorn diet that can add fun while watching a movie and stuffing your stomach even if you are on dieting. Well, do you see any problem in weight loss when you have so many choices? Of course not! Just decide on the diet that suits you the best; however, it would be even better if you consult your dietician too. Good luck!
Posted by: weight loss | Sep 13, 2007 12:24:07 AM
Viagra and cialis! there is no cheaper on the planet!
MASSIVE SAVINGS! for 1 week only!!!! Limited stock so be quick!!
http://www.firstchoicepharmacy.info/
http://www.firstchoicepharmacyrx.info/
Posted by: ralturbap | Aug 25, 2008 6:05:51 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
