Dear patient, who I will not be surprised to hear that you are dead

[BobR]

So we need some ultra-concentrated Narcan.  In big darts.  Maybe just a heavy gauge needle attached to a funnel and a bucket.

You need the bucket. We kind of do that. We will put them in ICU with a Narcan drip until they are clear, or they rip out their IV and go AMA to find another fix, which ever comes first.

bob

[RoadKingLarry]

We are now sometimes giving multiple doses of Narcan due to the local heroin being cut with either Fentanyl or carfentanil. 

Why do you hate Darwin?

[MillCreek]

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/03/21/520830183/doctors-consider-ethics-of-costly-heart-surgery-for-people-addicted-to-opioids?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=science

A very timely article that could be describing my patient.

[K Frame]

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/03/21/520830183/doctors-consider-ethics-of-costly-heart-surgery-for-people-addicted-to-opioids?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=science

A very timely article that could be describing my patient.

DEATH PANELS! DEATH PANELS!

[MillCreek]

DEATH PANELS! DEATH PANELS!

And that is pretty much why we don't want to touch the subject.  On the one hand, people say we are wasting money to keep drug addicts alive, and on the other hand, if you look to control the costs to keep drug addicts alive, people say who are you to play God?

[makattak]

And that is pretty much why we don't want to touch the subject.  On the one hand, people say we are wasting money to keep drug addicts alive, and on the other hand, if you look to control the costs to keep drug addicts alive, people say who are you to play God?

This is a danger of socialized medicine.

If it's your own money being wasted trying to save you, have at it.

When it's MY money that's being wasted to save someone from his own foolish choices, then I'm suddenly interested in whether he"deserves" to be saved.

Which is why we ought to keep the government out of such decisions (and payments!) at all costs. Sadly, that ship has already sailed.

[Scout26]

At the risk of pissing off Microbalrog further, if you have been diagnosed with opioid (or the like) addiction, then no living saving measures or procedures should be performed at public cost.  If you or your private insurance wish to pay, then go for it...

[gunsmith]

please pray for her