Posted by kazoo on February 9, 2001, at 0:20:15
In reply to I don't get it ..., posted by ItsJustMe on February 8, 2001, at 21:47:21
> How does everyone afford ordering in all these drugs from overseas?
^^^^^^^^^^^^
You bring up a good point, something I've wondered about for the longest time (remember: I'm an "Oldtimer"). And it's not just the cost aspect of this issue, but more of an ethical, moral one: is it really fair to extoll the benefits of a drug that is not currently mainstream, or even available, to someone who cannot get it? Aside from the anecdotal value of such posts, I personally think this is cruel; i.e., to give this sort of hope to someone in a hopeless situation. And the "hope" may be false at that: there's no guarantee that any of this stuff will work the way you want it to, or the way you would like it to. (But hope is hope, and even the smallest amount is worth holding on to.)
CASE IN POINT: Reboxetine. Tested and used extensively in Europe (the "old world") with fabulous results, yet its released is stalled in the USA (the "new world"), and why? Because the FDA, drug companies, insurance companies, advertising companies, PR people, doctors and pharmacists all want a piece of your WALLET, that's why. They couldn't care less about your health or mine (if they did, alcohol and tobacco products would be banned and illegal). Is the rest of the world better off than the States when it comes to drugs? Why should anyone have to jump through hoops to get medication? Why should anyone be faced with such a dilemma?
So, coming around full circle, ItsJustMe, you *did* ask the appropriate question, and hopefully I answered it in my own convoluted manner.
"Please take a number and stand in line ... a service representative will be with you before you die ... all major credit cards accepted."
(A still angry after all these years) kazoo
poster:kazoo
thread:53565
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010131/msgs/53574.html