MoveOn email

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Another RN sent this to me today, from MoveOn.org.

http://therealmccain.com/doctors/moveon.php

I'm not sure how I feel about this. On one hand, I believe we should know about a candidate's health, especially this candidate, given his age, what we do know about his medical history, and given his choice of V.P. being so sorely lacking in experience. On the other hand, I would be horrified if it got to the point that employers could access my medical records to help make a determination on hiring me.

Can we hold presidential candidates to a different standard, and should we?

[WannaBreatheYou]

No, I don't think we are entitled to his medical records. I think that's an invasion of privacy and not necessary. Even if he is in poor health, that doesn't mean he wouldn't be able to fulfill a full 4 to 8 years of putting this nation into virtual ruin, completing what Bush has started.

And if Obama is healthy, that doesn't mean he couldn't have a heart attack or get hit by a bus, or one of the radicals who don't like the idea of a black man in office couldn't off him. There is just nothing to support that any one elected to an office will or will not be able to complete their term.

[Annoyedlistner]

No, I don't think we are entitled to his medical records. I think that's an invasion of privacy and not necessary. Even if he is in poor health, that doesn't mean he wouldn't be able to fulfill a full 4 to 8 years of putting this nation into virtual ruin, completing what Bush has started.

And if Obama is healthy, that doesn't mean he couldn't have a heart attack or get hit by a bus, or one of the radicals who don't like the idea of a black man in office couldn't off him. There is just nothing to support that any one elected to an office will or will not be able to complete their term.

I think we should know everything we possibly can about both candidates.....we arent hiring someone to do data entry or hiring someone to run our business, we are hiring someone to run our country.

This person can greatly effect the path of our country in the future and can greatly effect the success of our great country. So i do believe that we should be allowed to find out anything we possibly can about this person.

[SparkleHugs]

While i agree with what youre saying. the idea of someone who has to go to the doctor's on a regular basis because they are ill or are otherwise in poor health will really take away from their abilities as President. Could they leave the country and visit other places? It just seems like such a thing would intervene with the day to day job. Many things could happen to a President, but when we elect them knowing they have some serious health problems is putting the nation at risk to unecessary vulnerability. It also puts even more importance on the VP choice.

I think the criterion for the President is different from every other job out there because the job itself is different from every job out there. I am not necessarily condoning disclosing all the medical records, but i definately see an argument for doing it. I'll stay on the fense on this one for the time being.

[WannaBreatheYou]

I honestly don't think medical records is something anyone needs to expect to know about someone in public office. That's my opinion. It takes away from the real issues that the candidates should be focusing on, and it's "Oh, but he's had melanoma, he's had this, he's had that." We've already got the issues being skirted around.

[db44]

While i agree with what youre saying. the idea of someone who has to go to the doctor's on a regular basis because they are ill or are otherwise in poor health will really take away from their abilities as President. Could they leave the country and visit other places? It just seems like such a thing would intervene with the day to day job. Many things could happen to a President, but when we elect them knowing they have some serious health problems is putting the nation at risk to unecessary vulnerability. It also puts even more importance on the VP choice.

It's my understanding that FDR's polio and his being bound to a wheelchair was largely kept from the public. It's a little different of a situation, but he still did the job (granted he died in office, but that was early in his fourth term, which wouldn't happen now). Would he have been voted in for a fourth term if the country was more aware of his condition? Who knows, considering the country was still in war, that may have still swayed people in his favor.

I'm not one per se for releasing medical history, but at the same time, when's the last time we've had somebody so old and with pre-existing issues running for office? Add to it McCain's chosen somebody most likely unfit to command as a runningmate, and yes, I think in an extreme case like this, we need to know how healthy he is.

[Whoda Thunk?]

I think access to the medical records is a bit much.

[db44]

True. However, I don't trust the McCain camp to tell us what we deserve to know either.

[Annoyedlistner]

I think access to the medical records is a bit much.

What if he had some disease that he is dying fro? its pretty damn scary. I want to know everything i can about McCain and i think America has the right too.

The last thing we need is someone to die in office and leave the office for someone who was just 2 years ago the mayor of a city of 7k people. That scares the crap out of me.

Oh but wait...she can see Russia from her house!!!

[WannaBreatheYou]

What if he had some disease that he is dying fro? its pretty damn scary. I want to know everything i can about McCain and i think America has the right too.

The last thing we need is someone to die in office and leave the office for someone who was just 2 years ago the mayor of a city of 7k people. That scares the crap out of me.

Oh but wait...she can see Russia from her house!!!
That could be said for anybody running for public office. Obama looks perfectly healthy, but that doesn't mean he couldn't have some disease that no one knows about. Biden, the same thing.

Or, other than the melanomas, and the normal getting older things, McCain could live another 15 to 20 years or more. No one can know, even predict, how long someone will be around, even if they have some health issues.

[Stormerella]

I think we have a right to know about their health history. I mean... what if McCain dies a year after being in office and we're stuck with Palin? I don't think voters should have to take that chance and "hope" he'll live 15-20 years or more. And hey, while we're at it, Obama's health records would be good as well. Fair is fair, right?

[Whoda Thunk?]

I guess my thing is- whether we know the medical history or not, ANYONE can die at any time. Having a certain disease isn't always certain death.

I just think some things should remain private and that includes anyone's health records.

[SparkleHugs]

I think that the people who are likely to vote for John McCain would still be just as likely to vote for him if he had some illness that might kill him making Sarah Palin the President. I think that most people who support John also support Sarah.

I agree having certain dieseases doesnt mean certain death, but they might mean alot of time taken away from the Presidency. it isnt a 8-5 M-F type of job. he needs to be healthy enough to do every element of the job. He shouldnt have to take time away from the citizens so he can go to the doctor on a regular basis.

Though I do think that there is a certain level of agism going on here. Because theoretically Obama could have some sort of undisclosed disease that could take precious time away from the job just as easily. But no one seems concerned about that.

I think if anyone is going to disclose records, all 4 of them should have to.

[db44]

I guess my thing is- whether we know the medical history or not, ANYONE can die at any time. Having a certain disease isn't always certain death.

Anyone can die at any time, yes, more often than not. An 18-year-old without a condition is likely to live longer than a 45-year-old without a condition, who in turn is likely lo live longer than a 75-year-old without a condition. Furtermore, an 18-year-old is less likely to contact some diseases that an older person might, and i disease is more likely to be more harmful to the older subject. For instance, West Nile is less likely to kill the 18 or 45 year-olds, while the disease has a higher fatality rate for an elderly person. The younger immune systems can combat what the older system struggles with.

Conversely, a 75-year-old with known health issues is more likely to die "at any moment" than a healthy 45-year-old. Yes, both can pass away "at any time," but I'd but the odds of living longer on the 45-year-old.

[Whoda Thunk?]

The fact that he's much older means he is more "likely" to die first, so I don't think having his medical history is going to sway anyone, but I could be wrong.

[db44]

And a healthy 70-year-old is still more likely to live longer than one who has an existing condition. McCain admittedly has health issues, and has played to them as part of his POW story. If he's still suffering from that, nuero-muscular issues, I think we have a need to know how serious they are.

[DoubleEdgeSword]

Most concerning to me is the history of reoccurring malignant, invasive melanoma. Second is the condition of his cardiovascular system, given that he is on HCTZ for blood pressure and a statin drug for high cholesterol and his history of smoking. If this man came into my ER with this medical history, as a clinician, I would not see a long life ahead for him.