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Very well said. I would add that we as a society must not step away from and turn our back on those of us unable to take care of ourselves, for whatever reason. Cordially, Charles W. Scouten, Ph.D. -----Original Message----- From: Bill Woolley [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Sunday, December 22, 2002 2:57 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: F-Dopa or any scan Excellent! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Bill ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Allison To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Sunday, December 22, 2002 5:47 AM Subject: F-Dopa or any scan Thought I would weigh in on the discussion. I find any rationale that limits appropriate medical treatment because of cost a little contradictory for two reasons. First, I think a hallmark of a great society is how it treats its criminals, downtrodden, and sick. All should be treated humanely which, includes any appropriate treatment. Second, I believe that much of Parkinsons is a result of environmental influence which includes manmade items. Society has reaped certain advantages from using some items whose full effect apparently is not known. (Without getting into the causes of Parkinsons, lets assume that herbicides cause Paarkinsons in some people--then society has reaped the benefit of greater food supplies by poisoning some of its own) If that same society withholds appropriate treatment because of cost, it allows a society to continue to ignore the bad effects because it can ignore the cost of properly diagnosing and treating those effects. Much of our society is based on the cost(risk)/benefit analysis and if we ignore the risks because they cost too much then someone is getting a free ride at our expense! How much has society gained through the use of items which hurt some of its own?? Only until we know that answer, can we really use the cost card to limit diagnosis and treatment. So, for me, the only appropriate question re the use of any scan is, is it appropriate for the condition? And, I dont know all of the medical and technical reasons to adequately answer that but I do know this: Parkinsons is frequently misdiagnosed and the effects of Parkinsons are even less understood--e.g. how varied they are, and the impact on autonomic and psychological aspects. And, one aspect of any chronic illness is the ability to plan for our incapacitation. Only correct diagnosis allows this. There is so much that is not understood about this disease that it thoroughly frustrates me at times -- for the most part, I think we have a well-intentioned but very poorly informed medical profession. If this scan will help to promote the correct diagnosis of some patients then lets belly up to the bar and stop giving someone/somewhere a free ride at their expense! I will now step down from my soapbox. Bob ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn