Health Care, and the Million Dollar Baby

Scenario:
A woman gives birth to a child, who is less than 3 pounds. The child, who's survival is not guaranteed, who's viability is murky, will die if intensive care/surgery is not given. In this hypothetical situation, the cost to save the life is one million dollars.

What would you do?
Who should pay for it? IE: Should insurance companies/tax payer be responsible?

If not, what's the cutoff point? What is the value of life? Is a baby's life more important that the 10 other lives who could saved with the same amount of money?

I've been browsing the SFA forums a lot more, and don't think I've seen this question before. I will post my opinion after hearing from yall.

 

I've heard the same answer before.

Some would say we've moved behind the "survival of the fittest", and that some minimum functions of life must be met. Whether you agree or not, homeless shelters, emergency health care benefits still exist. Some have even suggested that letting the baby die would equivocate murdering it. Regardless, that may be irrelevant.

Most of us do pay into a health care insurance program, who compensate some of the medical costs we incur. Because insurance companies in general must profit, the large majority of people pay for a small percentage of cases that arise. But most people pay for it anyways...

 

Very few parents will have $1M to spend, so they would have no choice but to let the baby die.

Are you saying that you also disagree with Social Security and unemployment benefits? These are tax-funded programs designed to help those who are unable to help themselves.

 

The baby may as well die.

Most birth deformations are caused by drug use, undereating, or overeating during pregnancy. It's most likely the parent's fault for not taking care of themselves.

 

According to both of you, the baby should be blamed for the parent's problems.

Is the baby itself not a seperate entity? What wrongdoing has it done, that it deserves death?

 

Nobody is suggesting that we should kill the baby - merely that we are not responsible for keeping it alive.

 

mmm american health care, isnt it great. pay now or your baby dies.

 

If I had the money i'll totaly give it all up to save the child. But if I don't i'll start a fundraiser. If I won't reach the time to save him with my fundraiser i'd rob a bank etc.

 

I clearly stated that it was most likely the parents fault.

 

It's the parent's fault yet the baby dies.

 

Yes.

Moving on...

 

A price has to be put on everything, I'd say leave it up to the discretion of the medical professionals who would understand the situation the best. If million dollar babies were common then something would have to be done, as there are better ways to spend taxpayer money.

Got a source on that?

 

"Who should pay for it? IE: Should insurance companies/tax payer be responsible?"

No. Other people are not responsible for this. It'd be a generous gesture, yes, but I wouldn't be willing to slave away 30 years of my life to save one baby's life whose survival isn't guarenteed.

 

Ok, than what's your fair "price tag" on human life? 500,000$? 20,000$?

 

I'm not responsible for paying for some random baby's operation.

 

I agree with 'Your Sister'. I wouldn't work for 30 years of my life to save a child that is yet unaware of it's surroundings. It maybe sad but 30 years of your life spent on a child that is not 100% guaranteed to survive is something I wouldn't do.