Ruth Bader Ginsberg's cancer fight

Discussion in 'Health Care' started by HumbledPi, Jul 15, 2020.

  1. HumbledPi

    HumbledPi Well-Known Member

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    I don't want this to be made political and it seems it always turns into a political tug of war when speaking of Ruth Bader Ginsberg. Yes, we all know the importance of her seat on the Supreme Court, but this thread is meant only to be more information as to the degree of illness and the cause of her current hospitalization.

    Ginsberg has been treated for cancer for a couple of years now and anyone here who is currently or has undergone cancer treatment in the past can empathize with her. Her recent medical history includes;

    "In 2018, surgeons removed two malignant nodules from Justice Ginsburg’s left lung and determined that the cancer had not spread. In 2009, she had surgery for early-stage pancreatic cancer, and in 1999 she was treated for colon cancer without missing a day on the bench." https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/14/us/Ruth-bader-Ginsburg-infection-hospital.html

    This woman is remarkable in more ways than one. Her intellect and knowledge of constitutional law is far above and ahead of the capability of many distinguished legal minds. But her endurance and ability to sustain a prolonged and very serious medical diagnosis like cancer is probably the most amazing thing about Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

    From what I've read about her current situation, she's being treated for an infected duct. That is likely one of the bile ducts that leads from the liver to the pancreas. My sister died in 2008 of cancer that originated in the liver bile duct. Considering the fact that Ruth Ginsberg has had malignant nodules in her lung removed, and other past surgeries for colon and pancreatic cancer, I feel that she isn't going to survive this one.

    I don't want to go into unpleasant details about my sister's illness, just to say it was extremely unbearable and emaciating. My sister weighed about 120 pounds her entire life and when she died, she has withered to just 50 pounds. About the weight of an eight year old child.

    Finally, I want people to understand what she's going through and be kind to her when her time comes.
     
  2. An Taibhse

    An Taibhse Well-Known Member

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    While I find myself in disagreement with many of her opinions on Constitutional issues, There are times I find agreement. The differences I have with her stem not so much from political allegiances, but from the differences in the framing of the Constitutional principles. I found more alignment with how Scalia framed his opinions. One thing that always impressed me was the deep friendship between Scalia and Ginsberg where despite their obvious differences they seemed to place friendship in high regard, high enough that each found value in allowing each other to be true to themselves and not a mirror reflecting who they wanted the other to be; the highest level of respect exchanged be tween two friends. I have a friendship very similar in nature with my closest friend with whom we are nearly polar opposites in our framing of Constitutional/political issues, with me a Conservative originalist and my friend a living Constitution perspective.
    Despite my differences with Ginsberg, I see her as a true American hero, one characterized as having the fortitude to stand by her beliefs and having the amazing courage to continue to face her monumental life challenges to continue to fight for her beliefs... a sacrifice and commitment few would do for their country.
    Every time she returns to the bench, rather than those hopping she doesn’t so an opportunity to populate it with someone aligned with their views is opened, I’d say, rather than focus on the ideological differences, see the example she represents; an icon of commitment and courage; a real American hero.
     
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  3. Sallyally

    Sallyally Well-Known Member Donor

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    Hear, hear. She’s a legend.
     
  4. kazenatsu

    kazenatsu Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Unfortunately, she is likely to suffer as the best doctors and medical minds are brought in to keep her body alive, long past the point where a normal patient should be kept alive, due to the political importance of her Supreme Court seat. I've said this before, even if she goes unconscious into a coma, you can be sure she will still be "voting" on the Supreme Court.
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2020

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