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Suzanne, if your dad retired from federal service he can do no better that Medicare plus Blue X/Blue shield medigap. I would not accept the word of any MD except a movement disorder specialist about anesthesia in surgery; I've been in the medical - pharmaceutical field for fifty (?) years, and I NEVER heard that. Barbara 's had pD for 11 yrs and during that time she's had colon cancer (now going around with a semi colon), and intestinal blockage, and spinal fusion due to her falls. These could not be done without anesthesia. Check further with other experts. Good luck Michel Greg & Suzanne wrote: > My father's oncologist just told us that he could not recommend my dad have surgery or even a > minimally invasive laporascopic RFA (a new procedure that has just been FDA approved for > liver metastases) if he were to need it because he says whenever you put a person with a > movement disorder under anesthesia it risks progressing it. Dad is 81 but in very good > condition for his age (heart, lungs & kidneys) & has excercised just about every day most of > his life and still plays ping pong twice a week for an hour,swims, walks everyday & drives. > He has a significant tremor in his right arm that he has not diagnosed yet but is suspected > to be PD. He has decided against temor medicine at this time because he still does not need > it. Dad was operated on in '98 for colon cancer (stage III with only one lymph node > involved). He recovered very well from that operation. It was later when > he got an intestional block due to adhesions from the surgery & was > released out of the hospital too early (in my opinion) by his HMO to a > nursing home where they put him in a room with someone who had pneumonia! > Noone came during the night to his call when his fever went up to 104 > degrees to cover him & he almost died of pneumonia before we found out that morning & got him > released (it took all day) to the hospital. In any case his PD progressed after that severe > fever but I think that was more from neglect. He is now living in an independent living apt. > in a continuing care retirement community he loves & where he would be released into an > excellent rahabilitation center if he needs it. In any case I think this doctor (he changed > to Blue Cross/Blue Shield - he was able to do this since he is a retired federal employee)is > looking for excuses not to order scans or to look into Dad's rising blood cancer marker (as a > second opinion told us last year to do). He is a preferred provider with Blue Cross & I > thought this would be a lot better arrangement than the HMO for an older person but I am > beginning to believe he may have certain age/cost guidlines that effect his choice more than > the condition of the person's health. > > Any ideas of this would be greatly appreciated. >