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| Photo: Getty Images |
Did you see the tributes to Senator Kennedy this past weekend? Boy, he and his family had their share of health issues! It was a serious back injury with subsequent chronic pain that would plague him for the rest of his life that provided the catalyst for his efforts to secure affordable health care for all Americans.
In 1964, Senator Kennedy was in a plane crash while on his way to a state convention. He sustained very serious injuries - a "broken back", some broken ribs and a collapsed lung. His broken back consisted of several crushed vertebrae, or spinal fractures. (By the way, his brother President John F. Kennedy had spinal fusion in 1954, when he was a senator. During his recovery, he took time off from the Senate and worked on Profiles in Courage.)
Ted Kennedy's treatment consisted of laying immobile on a special contraption designed to minimize pressure sores. Remember, this was 1964. Today, he would have likely had either a vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty. According to Newsweek, the six months Senator Kennedy was immobile was a fertile time during which he became really serious about his role as a legislator. His extended stay in the hospital also allowed him to reflect on how health care is available for those who can afford it, but not the poor. But what if someone of lesser means had the same injury? How would their treatment go? According to Masslive.com:
"I knew the care was expensive, but I didn't have to worry about that," Kennedy wrote. "But quality care shouldn't depend on your financial resources, or the type of job you have, or the medical condition you face. Every American should be able to get the same treatment that U.S. senators are entitled to."
Hmm, where have I heard that recently? We will soon see if the Senator's life's work and dream will reach fruition. I certainly hope so.
| Vertebroplasty | Back Pain | Spinal Fracture |
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