Hawking: Ironically, My Death Panel Saved My Life

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By Brian Beutler

Remember how Investor's Business Daily's editors went on and on about how if genius astrophysicist Stephen Hawking had been from a socialist hell hole like England, his health care system's death panel would have deemed him useless and snuffed out his life--completely unaware that Hawking--a professor at Cambridge--is and always has been, a British citizen?

Well that subtlety didn't escape one of the world's smartest men. Hawking himself had this to say to his...concerned supporters...at Investor's: "I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for the NHS. I have received a large amount of high quality treatment without which I would not have survived."

In fairness, though, maybe the folks at Investor's were thinking of a less eminent--and, crucially, non-British--scientist whose life the National Health Service might deem "essentially worthless."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/08...ife.php?ref=fpb

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

"I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for the NHS. I have received a large amount of high quality treatment without which I would not have survived."

Oh, snap.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It's hard to see from this pic, but Stephen is giving Right Wingers the bird.

[SMOKE 1,426]

"I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for the NHS. I have received a large amount of high quality treatment without which I would not have survived."

Oh, snap.

how many of those treatment do you think he would have recieved if he wasn't stephen hawking?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

"I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for the NHS. I have received a large amount of high quality treatment without which I would not have survived."

Oh, snap.

how many of those treatment do you think he would have recieved if he wasn't stephen hawking?

You can delve in all the conspiracy theories you like.

Personally, I think they gave him great treatment because he is an alien from outer space and his buddies let the British government know they'd invade with lasers (pew pew pew) if they didn't take care of their wayward son Stephen.

[Peikko 1,575]

"I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for the NHS. I have received a large amount of high quality treatment without which I would not have survived."

Oh, snap.

how many of those treatment do you think he would have recieved if he wasn't stephen hawking?

So imbued with the US system that you think the UK system works the same, eh?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

"I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for the NHS. I have received a large amount of high quality treatment without which I would not have survived."

Oh, snap.

how many of those treatment do you think he would have recieved if he wasn't stephen hawking?

There's simply no way to answer that question...

I presume it was rhetorical, based on the idea that because he is a celebrity that he "must" have received special treatment...

[SMOKE 1,426]

"I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for the NHS. I have received a large amount of high quality treatment without which I would not have survived."

Oh, snap.

how many of those treatment do you think he would have recieved if he wasn't stephen hawking?

So imbued with the US system that you think the UK system works the same, eh?

no i have no idea if the UK system would give special consideration for treatment of someone who happens to posses one most advanced minds of our time. that was the purpose of the question.

[SMOKE 1,426]

There's simply no way to answer that question...

I presume it was rhetorical, based on the idea that because he is a celebrity that he "must" have received special treatment...

yes it is. so do you think the average joe would have gotten the treatment?

[Otto 83]

I presume it was rhetorical, based on the idea that because he is a celebrity that he "must" have received special treatment...

He wasn't a celebrity when he was diagnosed and subsequently began treatment... nor did he have famous parents...

[mawilson 2,133]

"I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for the NHS. I have received a large amount of high quality treatment without which I would not have survived."

Oh, snap.

how many of those treatment do you think he would have recieved if he wasn't stephen hawking?

So imbued with the US system that you think the UK system works the same, eh?

Do you seriously believe that celebrities receive the same standard of care as everyone else?

[Peikko 1,575]

"I wouldn't be alive today if it weren't for the NHS. I have received a large amount of high quality treatment without which I would not have survived."

Oh, snap.

how many of those treatment do you think he would have recieved if he wasn't stephen hawking?

So imbued with the US system that you think the UK system works the same, eh?

Do you seriously believe that celebrities receive the same standard of care as everyone else?

In the NHS, yes - I would however imagine that many rich people (celebrity or not) take out supplementary insurance to get private rooms, better food and elective surgery.

As has been pointed out however, Mr Hawking's diagnosis and initial treatment were undertaken as a regular NHS patient, he wasn't famous for anything at that time and his parents were just regular members of the GP.

[SMOKE 1,426]

In the NHS, yes - I would however imagine that many rich people (celebrity or not) take out supplementary insurance to get private rooms, better food and elective surgery.

As has been pointed out however, Mr Hawking's diagnosis and initial treatment were undertaken as a regular NHS patient, he wasn't famous for anything at that time and his parents were just regular members of the GP.

him being a scientist had nothing to do with it IYO?

In fairness, though, maybe the folks at Investor's were thinking of a less eminent--and, crucially, non-British--scientist whose life the National Health Service might deem "essentially worthless."

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

There's simply no way to answer that question...

I presume it was rhetorical, based on the idea that because he is a celebrity that he "must" have received special treatment...

yes it is. so do you think the average joe would have gotten the treatment?

As I say, there's no way to answer that question.

But as others have indicated Mr Hawking has been receiving NHS treatment for much of his life.

him being a scientist had nothing to do with it IYO?

Again there's no way to discuss this as there's no evidence beyond your own convictions. You appear convinced beyond any shadow of doubt that Hawking received preferential treatment without knowing what treatment he received, what the severity of his condition was, and without the knowledge of the wait times in his districts for those treatments.

Edited August 12, 2009 by Private Pike

[SMOKE 1,426]

There's simply no way to answer that question...

I presume it was rhetorical, based on the idea that because he is a celebrity that he "must" have received special treatment...

yes it is. so do you think the average joe would have gotten the treatment?

As I say, there's no way to answer that question.

But as others have indicated Mr Hawking has been receiving NHS treatment for much of his life.

i'm asking for an opinion. 3 letters-yes 2 letters-no.