Miracle workers

[General Gonad]

Tonight, I caught ABC's new show, Miracle Workers. I am a sucker for cutting-edge real life medical shows where they actually make a difference in people's lives. This was tonight's show:

A man blind for 22 years underwent a revolutionary new treatment that restored his sight; and a woman suffering from degenerative bone and disc disease was given a medical procedure that enabled her to once again lead an active life.

You should have seen the man seeing his kids for the first time and enjoying the ocean view with his wife (now that is true happiness!). The woman was wheelchair bound but now leads an active life.

I am always amazed at medical miracles. It is nice to see that there are a lot of good people out there making a real difference in people's lives.

GG

 

[Techman]

I refuse to watch this show. It's one thing to do these things for people but another to make a spectacle out of it. Out of all the handicapped people in the US they pick and choose those who make the best impression on tv so that they can get the best ratings and the most money from their sponsors.
I guarantee that you won't see them picking up some poor disabled homeless person and helping them out. It's like the show where they build people these fantastic homes when they are down and out. It's all nice and good, but who is going to pay these peoples' property taxes on these places five years from now? I'm sure some of them will have to sell and may end up worse than they started. While I am truly happy for those who are helped by these shows you have to realize that they are picked because they fit the network's demographics.

 

[General Gonad]

good point

Techman,

Good point, maybe I should stop watching it. There are a lot of these uplifting shows but most of the time, it is a veneer and nothing but a ploy to get ratings. You're absolutely right.

I still think the procedures are cool.

GG

 

[eastender]

Good Point

I refuse to watch this show. It's one thing to do these things for people but another to make a spectacle out of it. Out of all the handicapped people in the US they pick and choose those who make the best impression on tv so that they can get the best ratings and the most money from their sponsors.
I guarantee that you won't see them picking up some poor disabled homeless person and helping them out. It's like the show where they build people these fantastic homes when they are down and out. It's all nice and good, but who is going to pay these peoples' property taxes on these places five years from now? I'm sure some of them will have to sell and may end up worse than they started. While I am truly happy for those who are helped by these shows you have to realize that they are picked because they fit the network's demographics.

Glad to see someone as cynical as me.The cost of producing,airing and paying all executives plus the hangers-on could have helped alot more people without the fanfare.

 

[asimplepicture]

no miracle required.....

I agree with Techman……and refuse to watch

I first became bitter with the Barney Clark scenario of the 80’s and that of the “The Mick”, Mickey Mantle in the 90’s,….. to very different individuals and there exists many others.

Yes Barney certainly seemed like a good man, a god-fearing family man and a successful dentist who became the poster boy for new heart replacement technology. Through no fault of his own, and his desire to continue to live a meaningful life, became a press-laden guinea pig. He, his loved ones and friends endured 112 days of hardship to perpetuate prolonged life. I wonder how long he would have lived without the intervention?

Then there’s the Mick,….. the drunken, womanizing bastard who’s only true accomplishment was to abuse his God given talents. Yes, “The Mick” got his liver transplant in 2 days, that’s right, 2 days, when the waiting time for everyone else on the planet averaged in the neighborhood of 183. And for what I ask, to allow this degenerate national icon to deny a needy and willing participant,..... perhaps a blue collar, hard working father of four, whom probably died on day 78 of his wait, so “The Mick” could live for another…. 2 months. Please, do not get me started on the issues of righteousness, morality or what’s simply fair and equitable.

My issue. What ever happened to just saying goodbye, just rolling over, just passing away,……without the sensationalism,… with privacy and dignity. Without the prolonged hardship and expenditure of resources, thanking God for the time one has had, being accountable for the choices, for the quality of living which ensued and making the most of every day.

My point,….. and it does not require a transplant, spiritual intervention or some fuck’in miracle. Simply, bring all the world’s troops home to their families. One could only imagine the ratings…..

In the U.S. alone the numbers are approaching 2,500 whom have died to date, which is only a small percentage of the 21,000, whom will live the rest of their lives with some form of debilitating circumstance. I have seen the horror, as many have. Thank God, my experience is not that of first hand. A women in my bank lost her only son in this God forsaken shit-hole,….and again, for what? He was 20 years old and had only been stationed in Iraq for 23 days. I cannot imagine her pain, I cannot offer anything to alleviate her sorrow…….as she has since quit her job.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_casualties.htm
http://www3.georgetown.edu/research/nrcbl/hsbioethics/units/cases/unit2_3.html