And waiting for your “elective” knee replacement surgery, I’m sure you wouldn’t be complaining about the for profit healthcare system.

Do you have gallstones that act up on an occasional basis? That cholecystectomy is “elective”.

What about cataracts that makes it impossible to read your newspaper? The cataract surgery is “elective”.

Do you suffer from spinal stenosis, that makes it unbearable to even sit still, or stand up and walk? That spinal fusion is “elective”.

What about that mole that recently doesn’t look normal? That biopsy is “elective”.


All healthcare providers aren’t evil, nor are the employees that have been furloughed the last few months because their hospital census is so low.

That "elective" surgery to remove blockage in a major artery.

Thanks for pointing out cataracts. My "elective" operation has been put off for six months. I fear by then I might not be able to drive.

Because I was just talking to a friend that works for an ophthalmologist. She was telling me of two different patients that are being affected by the shutdown right now.

One was a truck driver that had one eye done before the shutdown, but now is required to wait for the other side to be completed before he can go back to work (you don’t remove the cataracts from both eyes at the same time).

Another patient is also waiting for her second cataract to be removed, and she is debilitated by dizziness because of the equilibrium of her sight. She also was scheduled for her surgery when the shutdown was announced and it is now on hold until Michigan reopens. This should be in the next week or so.

described here. Health/medical corporations have needs and motivations as well, to keep operating for profit systems that are not known for being 'the milk of human kindness.'

People have been waiting too long for procedures that they really need but are considered "elective". Meanwhile tons of healthcare workers are losing their jobs if they are not on the frontlines, and even those on the frontlines are being asked to take pay cuts when they should be getting hazard pay. "Elective" procedures are not just cosmetic surgery, FYI.

who hasn't had as much as a blood test in months I find this great news.

for a heart valve replacement that was postponed in Michigan. He got a call yesterday that they plan on rescheduling it for 2 weeks from today. He lost his wife last summer and his youngest is only 10. I've been worried sick. Don't know whether to be relieved or more worried. I guess I have to trust his doctors to do what's best.

The surgery was for stage 2 colon cancer. I was in a lot of pain and could hardly eat because that triggered the pain. I had lost 10 of my 110 pounds. That was not good.

I can't imagine waiting 2+ months for the procedure.

If the hospitals keep COVID 19 patients and staff totally seperated it should be alright.

Mastectomies, etc, I don't know how they're "elective" if cancer has been detected. I can understand delaying them if they're "preventive" where no cancer has yet been detected.

And it's easy to minimize the impact of joint pain, when it's happening to someone else. Start the replacements.

But somehow that is the term everyone like to use. The correct term is "nonessential surgery".

From https://www.facs.org/covid-19/legislative-regulatory/executive-orders