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terry, first where do you live, because i sure want the name of your doctor. i havent found anyone yet like the ones you describe, but i havent given up yet. as far as who pays for the "high tech" tests, etc. my mother has private insurance which we pay for , but if the world at large including me does have to pay for others to be tested, i would rather my tax dollars be spent there than some of the places I understand they are currently being applied. as for as your miracle, i sure hope you get it. paula----- Original Message ----- From: "Terry Bowers" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thursday, September 05, 2002 3:44 AM Subject: Re: The Great F-DOPA PET Scan Debate! > Dear Tom, > > Thank you for pointing out the fact I sometimes disagree with histrionic > headlines. I must admit my complete lack of knowledge concerning the great > PET scan debate, this is the first I have heard about it. The point I was > trying to make is if you know you have Parkinson's then why would you want > to spend the time or the money to verify the obvious? > > If my recollection serves me I exhibited most of the classic and Cardinal > symptoms of this disease when I first went to see a neurologist. And when I > was administered levodopa my symptoms were alleviated within a week. So > pardon me if I don't feel like I need to take a PET scan. > > I must also take exception to this constant and never ending diatribe > against our physicians. I must be one of the luckiest men when it comes to > having good doctors. I cannot think of one time since my Parkinsonian > journey has begun when I felt like my care and treatment were substandard. > Or when I felt like I was receiving short shrift from my neurologist. I > firmly believe that the doctors I've seen take their oath of Hippocrates to > heart. I can see their absolute duty to do good for their patients, > beneficence. I can see their commitment to do no harm, nonmaleficence. I > am impressed by my doctors allowing me the benefit of self determination, > autonomy. And finally I am taken aback when I observe their every attempt > to be fair and to treat people with equity of reasonableness without > discrimination, Justice. > > I suppose what caught my attention on this great PET scan debate is the > larger issue of how do we ration care to the 40 + million Americans who lack > any health insurance. The technology your speaking of has got to be > considered high tech medical care. And the question that begs answering is > whom in our society should benefit from this high tech medical care? Those > who can afford it, or those most in need? And who pays? My private > insurance, or the public at large? > > Let's be grown up about this and realize that health-care in our great > country is market driven. And a new medical technology is quite expensive. > I can see a time very soon now where we as a nation are going to have to > accept some type of health care rationing because the demands will outstrip > the resources. (Like having every person with Parkinson's, or think they > might have Parkinson's, or think they may not have Parkinson's demand a PET > scan. ) I'm not so sure that as country we will ever see people like myself > and others who are convinced of our Parkinson's diagnosis running down to > get our PET scan anytime soon. Ethically, isn't it our responsibility to > promote a sense of all by not hoarding exotic medical resources? > > I appreciate your invitation to speak in Albuquerque this coming October. > However I must respectfully decline since I already have prior commitments. > > And with respect to the tagline in my e-mail signature file that says "A > cure by 2005" I give to you the following from my heart. You can find this > in John 9:1-3, As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been blind since > birth. Jesus' disciples asked, "Teacher, why was this man born blind? Was > it because he or his parents sinned?" > > "No, it wasn't!" Jesus answered. "But because of this, you will see God > work a miracle for him." > > Sincerely, > > Terry Bowers > > -- As a young-onset patient of Parkinson's Disease, > a progressive, degenerative, as yet incurable > neurological disorder, Terry has become a tireless > Advocate, speaking and writing on behalf of > Parkinson's patients and their families and caregivers. > > To invite Terry to come and speak to your group, > club or organization contact him at > [log in to unmask] or call him at 254-747-0856. > Topics include Parkinson's Awareness, > Activism and Self-Determination, Bioethics, and > Stem Cells and Their Sources. > > "A cure by 2005" > Texas Parkinsonian Advocate > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[log in to unmask]> > To: "'Terry Bowers'" <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2002 6:51 PM > Subject: RE: The Great F-DOPA PET Scan Debate! > > > Always leave it up to Terry to be the odd man out on any subject. > > I believe that I do have Parkinson's, thus no denial. If I was in denial > would I spend 16+ hours a day advocating STEM CELLS, participating in > discussions, getting up at 4am to post Parkinson's related news, or > establishing national 501C3 Parkinson's associations? Denial....no. > > Faith in my physicians. Absolutely not. I have faith in me and in the > PWP community. Of the 13 neuros and 2 MDS's I have worked with in two > years only one of the MDS was worth a dam and he is in DC. Too often do > we all hear: "You look good, here try this drug, see you in 6 months.". > I want to see a change in the system so those following in my footsteps > do not have to put up with such things. > > Self insured? Oh my....... I have no insurance, I am lucky or not to > fall under the VA health care system. > > Noticed your "Cure by 2005" line in your signature. How do you feasibly > expect such a miracle if you constantly argue against the entire PD > community? Specifically the young onset? We must tackle all aspects of > PD together and that includes making the F-DOPA SCAN a normal part of > diagnosis (as is MRI). Also your signature says to invite you to come > and speak to your group etc.........you are hereby officially inivited > to come speak at the 1st Annual Southwest Regional Parkinson's > Conference and 1st Annual Young Onset Parkinson's Disease Walk in > Albuquerque New Mexico from 10-12 October 2002. Please reply NLT 10 > September 2002 to accept/refuse this request so we can fit you into the > lineup of speakers. Information on the events maybe found at > www.youngparkinsons.com/symposium.htm. We all look forward to hearing > what you have to say about your efforts in "Awareness", Activism, Self > Determinatino, Bioethics, and STEM CELL. Expect an audience of 150-200 > and let us know what AV items you need. See you in October. > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn