Thread by @eemoin

I'm reviewing the history of how care for patients with ESRD came to be a Medicare entitlement. Many people have heard the story in broad strokes concerning "God panels," rationing of dialysis machines, etc journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/god-pa… ...

In 1971, Shep Glazer testified before the House Ways and Means Committee in favor of the legislation. As a 43 year old with ESRD, he gave stirring and memorable testimony...

... perhaps overshadowed, however, by his receiving a hemodialysis session in the hearing room itself. Physicians and politicians alike were strongly opposed out of fear that Glazer would die during the session and taint the proposed bill...

... In fact, Glazer went into ventricular tachycardia within five minutes, the lines were clamped, and the session was stopped.

"Nevertheless, the few members of the committee who were present characterized the episode as “excellent testimony.”"

And the rest is history. Today, care for ESRD patients accounts for almost 1% of the federal budget (~$33B/~$3.8T, most recent data from 2015).

Many more historical details here: nap.edu/read/1793/chap…