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I don't see that this is a problem because they do this this sort of surgery at places like Barnes Jewish Hospital in St Louis MO and Long Island Jewish Hospital in New York as well as Cedars-Sinai Hosiptal in LA. Jewish Rabbis are smart guys and probably ruled that the pig valve dosn't violate Kosher Diet Laws because it isn't eaten! You'd be amazed as to what has gotten into the Talmud over these thousands of years.
I don't see that this is a problem because they do this this sort of surgery at places like Barnes Jewish Hospital in St Louis MO and Long Island Jewish Hospital in New York as well as Cedars-Sinai Hosiptal in LA. Jewish Rabbis are smart guys and probably ruled that the pig valve dosn't violate Kosher Diet Laws because it isn't eaten! You'd be amazed as to what has gotten into the Talmud over these thousands of years.
Ok, agreed it isn't eaten. But there are oral medications that contain un-kosher materials. Should there be medications not covered because they violate kosher laws? Are any other religious groups jumping on this bandwagon? What are some of the senerios that could come up? I won't an employee's coverage of x because MY religion finds it offensive or violates MY moral beliefs? No blood transfusions. Pray that the cancer is cured. That medication gives him an erection, but, he's not married? I wonder if that one will come up?
Should an employee of a Jewish organization be denied coverage for a heart valve replacement because it isn't kosher? Or should a Jewish hospital refuse to do this same poceedure?
That is up to the person who is receiving the valve. If he doesn't want it then he should not be forced to get it. If the hospital doesn't want to do the operation I am sure many other hospitals would be glad to do it.
Sorry, maybe I should have made the point that many valve replacements use pig valves. Therefore they aren't kosher and against Jewish kosher laws.
Actually, there are three types. Mechanical which is plastic. Pig, which is the standard. Cow valves are also used. So a person that needs it to be completely kosher can use one of the other two.
Jews don't have a problem with pig heart valves. The OP does not understand Judaism. The principle of saving a life applies. Any rabbi will say get the replacement even if made from a pig. Jews value life above the rules of kosher. You can do things like break the shabbos if it involves saving a life.
Ok, agreed it isn't eaten. But there are oral medications that contain un-kosher materials. Should there be medications not covered because they violate kosher laws? Are any other religious groups jumping on this bandwagon? What are some of the senerios that could come up? I won't an employee's coverage of x because MY religion finds it offensive or violates MY moral beliefs? No blood transfusions. Pray that the cancer is cured. That medication gives him an erection, but, he's not married? I wonder if that one will come up?
An interesting example of a medication that is derived from Pork by products is the anti-clotting agent Heprin which is an extract produced from pig intestines. About 90 % of the world's supply comes from one country (Not the USA) which conincidentaly is the worlds largest producer and consummer of pork and has the skilled labor to do the separations needed to separate it from the pig guts. They also work pretty cheap. If you guessed it it comes from China so we Americans totally dependent on the high standards of Chinese pharma. So if you are a stroke victim, have any medical procedure where clotting is a possible complication, have deep vein thrombossis, any embolisim a heart attack the choice is often heprin or the last rites. I am a dialysis patient and get a heprin shot 3 times a week. Stories of counterfit drugs from China make me nervous.
Jews don't have a problem with pig heart valves. The OP does not understand Judaism. The principle of saving a life applies. Any rabbi will say get the replacement even if made from a pig. Jews value life above the rules of kosher. You can do things like break the shabbos if it involves saving a life.
Thank you. I you are right in saying that I am not complete in the understanding of Judiac Laws. I was only trying to make the point that there are many intricacies of religious laws that may cause; say a politican; to try and make a policy that does not intentionally "make war" against said religion, and therefore should not been seen as such.
The government should not mandate that any religious/faith based organization be forced to provide insurance coverage or services which are contrary to its religious teachings.
Why condescending with the yawn. Just move on and don't post.
One is a martial art, the other is something you make bagels out of.
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So if you are a stroke victim, have any medical procedure where clotting is a possible complication, have deep vein thrombossis, any embolisim a heart attack the choice is often heprin or the last rites. I am a dialysis patient and get a heprin shot 3 times a week. Stories of counterfit drugs from China make me nervous. 
