US Politics: Competitive Bidding for Prosthetics
Wayne Renardson
renardwc at ctrvax.Vanderbilt.Edu
Mon Sep 23 12:24:16 PDT 2002
Content-type: Multipart/Alternative; boundary="Alt-Boundary-28821.19541386"
--Alt-Boundary-28821.19541386
Michael Link wrote:
ML>Before this turns into a war of ethics I would like to say that as in all
debates, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
Probably.
ML> Point #1-We have all seen a leg come into our practice, that we question
the need and or the intent behind the design.
I am BK from a 1969 motorcycle accident. In 1972 I walked into Snell
Orthopedics in Nashville, TN for a new prosthesis. The first prosthetist to
examine my then PTB, which used a 'wedge' suspension, was flabbergasted
and invited his colleagues to look at this experimental contraption. They were
kinda snickering about this rig. Ho ho ho.
ML> Point #2-Anyone that pays for insurance coverage is well a where just
how they deal with the increased costs to provide advanced technology to
people in need.
I do not know what this means. Do you suggest the reason my insurance
premiums increase is due to 'needy' people? I suspect the reasons are far more
complex.
ML> The perfect prosthesis does not limit the potential of the amputee, but in
turn does not grossly exceed it either.
I am not aware of a 'perfect' prosthesis. What does that mean? A prosthesis
should be comfortable and allow me to navigate from point A to B without
discomfort. I suspect all prosthetic devices are compromises and not in any
way perfect.
If by the above you mean to say the attitude or mindset of the amputee is
more important than any prosthesis, born or unborn, I agree. If an amputee
with a sterling attitude is however not provided with a comfortable rig, even
the most solid mindset cannot overcome a poor design or fit.
ML> The cost of the components is not always directly proportional to the
function advantages. There are components that cost very little and are not
appropriate for some amputees, as there are some very expensive options that
apply to amputees with respectively low potential.
I once saw on the god-awful, people-exploitive, Murry Povich TV show a
demo of a myo arm that would allow the user to detect heat and cold. The
presenter suggested it would allow a BE or AE amputee to "tell if her baby's
water was too hot to prevent scalding the child." The audience oooooowed
and awwwwwed. How wonderful. The arm was a mere $25,000.
I phoned the program and prosthetist to suggest that amputee women of my
acquaintance were smart and could use their big toe, or nose, or whatever, to
test the water to prevent burning their child and the $25K would be far better
spent on their child's education.
ML> The choices we make should be defendable to providing a distinct and
realistic advantage to the amputee.
By 'we' I will guess you are a prosthetist? I see you're at College Park. Either
way, the above is a good point.
Wayne Renardson
--Alt-Boundary-28821.19541386
<body>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12pt">Michael Link wrote:</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><br></div>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12pt">ML>Before this turns
into a war of ethics I would like to say that as in all
debates, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. </span></font></div>
<div align="left"><br>
</div>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12pt">Probably. </span></font></div>
<div align="left"><br>
</div>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12pt">ML> Point #1-We have
all seen a leg come into our practice, that we question
the need and or the intent behind the design. </span></font></div>
<div align="left"><br>
</div>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12pt">I am BK from a 1969 motorcycle
accident. In 1972 I walked into Snell
Orthopedics in Nashville, TN for a new prosthesis. The first prosthetist to
examine my then PTB, which used a 'wedge' suspension, was flabbergasted
and invited his colleagues to look at this experimental contraption. They were
kinda snickering about this rig. Ho ho ho. </span></font></div>
<div align="left"><br>
</div>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12pt">ML> Point #2-Anyone that
pays for insurance coverage is well a where just
how they deal with the increased costs to provide advanced technology to
people in need. </span></font></div>
<div align="left"><br>
</div>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12pt">I do not know what this
means. Do you suggest the reason my insurance
premiums increase is due to 'needy' people? I suspect the reasons are far more
complex. </span></font></div>
<div align="left"><br>
</div>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12pt">ML> The perfect prosthesis
does not limit the potential of the amputee, but in
turn does not grossly exceed it either. </span></font></div>
<div align="left"><br>
</div>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12pt">I am not aware of a 'perfect'
prosthesis. What does that mean? A prosthesis
should be comfortable and allow me to navigate from point A to B without
discomfort. I suspect all prosthetic devices are compromises and not in any
way perfect. </span></font></div>
<div align="left"><br>
</div>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12pt">If by the above you
mean to say the attitude or mindset of the amputee is
more important than any prosthesis, born or unborn, I agree. If an amputee
with a sterling attitude is however not provided with a comfortable rig, even
the most solid mindset cannot overcome a poor design or fit. </span></font></div>
<div align="left"><br>
</div>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12pt">ML> The cost of the components
is not always directly proportional to the
function advantages. There are components that cost very little and are not
appropriate for some amputees, as there are some very expensive options that
apply to amputees with respectively low potential. </span></font></div>
<div align="left"><br>
</div>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12pt">I once saw on the god-awful,
people-exploitive, Murry Povich TV show a
demo of a myo arm that would allow the user to detect heat and cold. The
presenter suggested it would allow a BE or AE amputee to "tell if her baby's
water was too hot to prevent scalding the child." The audience oooooowed
and awwwwwed. How wonderful. The arm was a mere $25,000. </span></font></div>
<div align="left"><br>
</div>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12pt">I phoned the program and
prosthetist to suggest that amputee women of my
acquaintance were smart and could use their big toe, or nose, or whatever, to
test the water to prevent burning their child and the $25K would be far better
spent on their child's education. </span></font></div>
<div align="left"><br>
</div>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12pt">ML> The choices we make
should be defendable to providing a distinct and
realistic advantage to the amputee. </span></font></div>
<div align="left"><br>
</div>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12pt">By 'we' I will guess you
are a prosthetist? I see you're at College Park. Either
way, the above is a good point. </span></font></div>
<div align="left"><br></div>
<div align="left"><br>
</div>
<div align="left"><font face="Times New Roman"><span style="font-size:12pt">Wayne Renardson</span></font></div>
<div align="left"><br>
</div>
<div align="left"></div>
</body>
--Alt-Boundary-28821.19541386--
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