There are many laws in this Country to protect people from injury and loss. They are supposed to protect them while allowing unfettered freedom to enjoy life and liberty.
Now there was a time when you had to harm people to save them from a greater evil. Cancer. You had to radiate them enough to kill that cancer after removal of a tumor by a surgeon. Under those circumstances you could legally and ethically harm someone to save their life with I-125. Makes sense. If the choice is harm or death, I choose harm. Also people hired or family members caring for the patient after treatment had to suffer some exposure causing harm to them as well. Not a good situation but considering the options, there was no better choice.
Now there is. Cesium 131 is a better choice for the patient and the care givers. The cancer cells are killed more quickly and the after effects of the radiation are greatly reduced. Plain and simple. Yet we are talking about a length of time that seems ridiculous to make this the “Standard of Care.”
How quickly would it become the standard of care if a surgeon was arrested for using an outmoded treatment that caused unnecessary harm to the patient and care givers? How quickly would word spread in the journals and respected publications to get the doctors and hospitals attention if doctors had to call their lawyers to get them out of jail after surgery?
The doctor could tell the judge, your Honor, I have to be in surgery tomorrow! I have a sick patient who needs an operation! You can’t keep me in jail!
A judge would say, you’re staying in jail until you agree to never harm another person with your quackery and barbaric medicine and agree to use the best practices available to help cure people. Understood?
Why is there even a conversation about this? It doesn’t make sense. It is no longer ethical and shouldn't be legal to use I-125 when there is a better option available. C-131.
My opinion here today.
