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Modificado por Papa Zoom (21. Agosto 2009, 23:12:40)
U.S. News & World Report claims that "First, it's shaky ground to compare U.S. infant mortality with reports from other countries. The United States counts all births as live if they show any sign of life, regardless of prematurity or size. This includes what many other countries report as stillbirths. In Austria and Germany, fetal weight must be at least 500 grams (1 pound) to count as a live birth; in other parts of Europe, such as Switzerland, the fetus must be at least 30 centimeters (12 inches) long. In Belgium and France, births at less than 26 weeks of pregnancy are registered as lifeless. And some countries don't reliably register babies who die within the first 24 hours of birth. Thus, the United States is sure to report higher infant mortality rates. For this very reason, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which collects the European numbers, warns of head-to-head comparisons by country."
Czuch: Thanks. Even if Jules assertion was true, it certainly doesn't follow that the US health care system is the corresponding factor for the higher death rates. Even so, it's clear that Jules comment is misleading. It's a conclusion that isn't based on full disclosure. All factors need to be equal and clearly, other countries have different standards in determining infant mortality. Like a dentist who claims his patients have fewer cavities but then it's discovered he doesn't count children under 12 or patients over 20. And he only counts every other tooth. ;)
Modificado por Pedro Martínez (22. Agosto 2009, 21:30:23)
Czuch, AD: I think it should be noted that only very few of the countries ranked higher than the United States on the infant mortality list use other criteria for the definition of a live birth than those used in the US. I understand, however, that it is hard to put up with the fact that the noble country, or the nation of beautiful babies, is not ranked anywhere close to the top of the list.
Pedro Martínez: They can't admit that anything is wrong with the US as it is now. It would be "unpatriotic". Besides, admitting anything is wrong might lead to (gulp!) socialism.
Ferris Bueller: Both Czuch and I have admitted to the US having its faults. No country is perfect. But to isolate one factor (a flawed one at that) to make a point regarding US health care shows the weakness in one's argument, not a strength.
Artful Dodger: Thats correct... Jules has consistently made the point that the US health care system is flawed, and uses our infant mortality rate as a good example... again, we are not perfect, but I dont believe we are as flawed as some may want to project.
Ferris Bueller: I can see your point, and agree with you, somewhat.... part of it is patriotic, and socialism is against everything that made our country great in the firsts place....but it doesnt change the fact that our government is a lot worse at running things than is our private industry, more government is NOT the answer
And if your private sector is so great.. why is there a crime called corporate manslaughter. Also.... why is it that your health industry is making huge profits at the expense of you the tax payers?
Efficiency can come in many forms and through many types of system.
And btw... looking and your countries declaration of independence... For the people, not for business to take the mickey and exploit your government.
Pedro Martínez: US's ranking on infant mortality as a direct cooresponding factor to the quality of US health care was the connection that was being made. I have shown that making such an analysis based on that single factor is faulty at best. It should concern all Americans that the infant mortality rate is high. But to conclude that it's the fault of the health care system ignores more likely factors. If all data collecting were equal, then the comparisons would have more meaning.
Artful Dodger, Czuch: I'm not saying that the US health care system is of inferior quality. I just wanted to point out that the infant mortality ranking, as available at Wikipedia, for example, is not the same as comparing apples to oranges. I think that it would be better to mark those countries where live births are defined differently, but in general, I would say that the list is a reliable source and should not be deprecated.
The second part of my previous post came from something in me feeling some kind of disgust over the first sentence of the article provided by AD. That is definitely NOT how a serious and professional article should begin. The "patriotism" has already gone too far in the US. Too bad that not many realize that.
Modificado por Papa Zoom (24. Agosto 2009, 04:35:07)
Pedro Martínez: "We're a nation of beautiful babies." It wasn't written by a professional journalist but by a doctor. And that first sentence is a simple literary device. It's odd to me that you would be disgusted over reading it. I'm not sure how you took that first sentence but I suspect you read too much into it. And the author's audience is Americans. I doubt that there were many that were disgusted by that sentence. Why were you so put off by it?
Artful Dodger: What gets me is her abuse of medical advances, your "70%" drop in baby deaths is pretty much what has been happening woldwide with advances in medicine, it's not a purely 'American' thing and as much is a distortion.
Premature babies in the 70's had far less a chance to survive then they do now in any country. That is a fact.
Artful Dodger: Well, AD, if it was written by a professional journalist, I wouldn't be put off by it at all. But this was written by a doctor as a want-to-be scientific article, the goal of which was to prove that the mortality rate of American infants is not as bad as reported. To me, the purpose of the first sentence was to tune the reader to the patriotic frequency, thus distorting the whole view of the issue. There is no place for such "literary devices" in articles of this kind. But yes, maybe I really am reading too much into it, as in general I do agree with the point the doctor is trying to make in that article.
Pedro Martínez: Sorry, I did not read any of your links, so i will assume they are negative towards the US health care system.... but even so, it is not the ultimate dagger in our system as a whole.
But I can agree... there is something wrong with that ranking, it is disturbing to me!
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