Tackling Ebola

Discussion in 'Politics Discussion' started by May102014, Jul 30, 2014.

  1. May102014

    May102014 Well-Known Member

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    Do you think doctors should work around deadly diseases like Ebola when there's a risk for them to become ill as well? I ask this question because a doctor from Sierra Leone who helped cured 100 patients suffering from Ebola died yesterday. It was so sad and a few weeks ago he expressed his concern about helping patients with this horrible disease. At the same time, it’s their job and doctors are aware of the risks. It’s not only a benefit to the patient but also to the doctor’s reputation. In fact, I thinks it is almost a humanitarian act rather than a doctor just doing his/her job. What are your thoughts?
     
  2. Kate

    Kate Senior Investor

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    I haven't thought about this issue before, but I tend to agree with you about it being more of a humanitarian act. Which probably means that no one should be forced to be a doctor to Ebola patients if they choose not to.

    It's easy to say "they're a doctor, they have to" without realizing that if the doctor dies, *many* other patients will suffer and be impacted without his or her care. Plus most of them have families who would be losing their husband/father... and in many places, their sole form of income.

    So bottom line... I think it should be a voluntary humanitarian service until they find a way to better protect the medical workers.
     
  3. Livvy

    Livvy Well-Known Member

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    Wait, he actually died? I thought he was meant to be responding to the treatment well. That's rather sad...

    However, I don't think anyone is going to say that just because someone is a doctor, they have to do this sort of thing. People choose to become doctors, for various reasons. Maybe it's the money, maybe it's the power, let's not deny that. However, in the vast majority of cases you find that people do it because they want to make a difference. They want to help people. Some people want to help children get better, some want to focus on mental health, or the elderly. This is the same thing;some choose to tackle epidemics in developing countries, while some choose to tackle these epidemics at home through research and development of new medicines.
     
  4. Determined2014

    Determined2014 Guest

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    I do not think there is another way around this, if the docotrs do not work around this patients then who is going to treat them? instead the disease will spread beyond control and the situation will be worse than ever.
     
  5. Gelsemium

    Gelsemium Senior Investor

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    Being a doctor is a huge responsibility, not only because they deal with life and death questions, but also moral ones. Risking our lives to save others? Not for everyone, that is for sure.
     
  6. Rainman

    Rainman Senior Investor

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    It should be the doctor's decisions. If he chooses to help those with contagious diseases like Ebola then he along with all his patients should be quarantined. Very few can do that and those who do, IMO, are heroes who should be honored especially if they fall in 'battle.'
     
  7. Strykstar

    Strykstar Well-Known Member

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    This is a very selfless career, people like him need to be praised and acknowledged more.
    He knew better than everyone the risks of his work and still he chose to do it, it's a great loss when these people die.
     
  8. preyy

    preyy Well-Known Member

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    This is seriously spreading across the globe? Hell, I've usually informed myself about many kind of things, but this one should've gone past my eyes... dreadful, indeed.
     
  9. junebug

    junebug Member

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    Yes, they are getting US aid workers out of the area to hopefully prevent them from becoming sick. I think there are 2 Americans who have been brought to Emory University in Atlanta to hopefully recover. But from what I've heard, ebola actually is fairly difficult to catch and we shouldn't worry too much about it spreading in the US. Are there ways for doctors to protect themselves while treating patients? If it's difficult to catch, like I had heard, I would think it shouldn't be too hard to protect the doctors. Unless they are coming into contact with someone who they don't realize has ebola.
     
  10. Livvy

    Livvy Well-Known Member

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    It's difficult to catch, if you're not actually around the patient, or treating them. It's transferred through bodily fluids, including vomit, fecal mater. Guess what bodily fluids are most likely to be coming out of an Ebola victim? You're going to know that the person has Ebola.
     

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