Comment Re:Dayum.... WTF (Score 1) 340
Hrm - he doesn't seem too much like "some random dude" - or any more random than other specialists in their field and who run a hospital backed research treatment center.
This is political bullshit of the highest order - and full of hypocrisy. This has *nothing* to do with factual relevance - and has *everything* to do with trying to manufacture something about a politician because you don't him. This is birther insanity in reverse.
Seems kinda lame and weak that there was an instant down-shift to ad hominem to attack the doctor as a quack because they don't like Rick Perry's political positions.
Basically - this argument is "some scientists criticize a politician because he went to another scientist for an experimental treatment using adult stem cells to help alleviate back pain; so because we don't like him, we want to use this criticism as a justification to question his decision making ability."
I think there are a lot of people who've benefited from adult stem cell research that would disagree that this is quackery.
Because someone who wants to be "The Decider" is open to medical research and treatments, even for himself, this is a bad thing? Because you don't agree with his decision to try and alleviate his back pain? *THIS* is a politically justifiable position? I strongly disagree and find it very narrow minded.
I don't care either way about this and don't understand why others do - I know people with chronic pain will try just about anything to help alleviate it. Frankly, I sort of find it a plus in someone wanting to be "The Decider" has hit the limits of modern medical practice and has had to try procedures "outside the system". They would likely be more apt to consider the patient's needs when it comes to making decisions about such matters better than someone who's never experienced such a scenario.
It sucks when a doctor says there's nothing we can do for your pain.
Having lost a family member to cancer, I can tell you with absolute certainty that criticizing someone for seeking pain relief by any means necessary is ignorant, short-sighted, and selfish. I don't care how many letters there are behind someone's name; they do not know everything and cannot say with *any* certainty how someone body will react. I've seen it first hand so if you think I'm wrong you can suck it. My sister battled intestinal cancer and they couldn't manage her pain for shit with normal treatments.
You wanna criticize for this - nice
When my sister was dying, we hit the end of the "approved treatments". From acupuncture to drugs - we tried anything and everything to alleviate the pain from her intestinal cancer. The solution was experimental and caused blisters in her mouth - but it was fucking worth it.
Politicizing medicine is a *really*, *really* bad idea and borders on unconscionably fascist thinking. It ignores the plight of many, be them janitors or governors, who can't find a treatment that works and whose only hope of relief is an experimental treatment.
If I were in his position, I would weigh the benefits and the risks and make the right decision for me. For people in this thread, or in the press, or scientists who have *NO* direct knowledge of the circumstances or of his medical condition to act like they have the moral authority to judge is just silly, hateful rhetoric founded not in sound decision but instead in partisan attacks.
Hell, I don't even like Perry that much. I live in Texas and even I, not _even_ the smartest guy in the room, know that this is a f*cking joke of an issue and only makes the people jumping on it look unreasonably partisan.