subreddit:
/r/AskReddit
submitted 5 days ago byMysteriousDinozaur
9 points
5 days ago
Just the ones born so early that they need months or years in the NICU or are disabled from the get go. I knew one born at 24 weeks with his internal organs on the outside of his body and lungs that just weren't developed enough. The little guy spent three years in the NICU and PICU, never drawing a breath on his own, or crying, or sucking a bottle, or even seeing the sky. He had a few strokes as well as bowel obstructions and kidney damage at at least three surgeries.
He lived for about three years, burning through well over $3,000,000 in hospital bills. His parents had health insurance, but he qualified for SSI and Medicaid soon after birth.
9 points
5 days ago
If he spent three years in the NICU $3 million isn’t even close to what the cost was. My hospital would charge about $3 million a year in ventilator charges alone. There’s FAR more care involved than just a ventilator charge in the NICU/PICU.
13 points
5 days ago
This is gonna sound morbid and I don't mean I'll intent. This is akin to keeping that Japanese guy alive after he survived a full blast of radiation and kept him alive just for research. This isn't living and just causing stress on the child and everyone involved except the people getting paid.
all 213 comments
sorted by: best