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Spyder the 6-Legged Deer Dies After Surgery
From Georgia’s Rome News-Tribune:
The story of Spyder, the six-legged deer found in Rome who captivated people across the nation, included a remarkable journey from his rescue in Floyd County last month to his surgery at an animal clinic in Athens to remove his two extra legs. . . .
Unfortunately, the story has a sad ending. Two days after last week’s surgery at Mars Hill Animal Hospital, Spyder died Aug. 20 in what veterinarians called a “vascular accident.”
I haven't followed this well, but wasn't the deer doing just fine with its six legs, I can also see the scientific benefits to this procedure but was it morally and honestly neccessary? I believe these scientists knew that this would be the likely outcome. Maybe I"m wrong. I don't know, sad that it had to die in this way though, could have just let nature run its course.
Posted by: Scott | August 30, 2008 at 03:58 PM
There are people across the world who need surgery that they either cannot afford and/or their insurance will not cover. How does a deer fit into the HMO system and who suffered by not getting necessary surgery while Spider got surgery he didn't ask for or want?
Posted by: William | September 01, 2008 at 01:26 AM
There are people all over the world who don't have healthcare, but these fools trap a healthy deer and spend who valuable resources killing it. I think "animal people" do more harm tham good.
Posted by: Andrew | September 02, 2008 at 10:31 AM
I wonder what the physicians learned during the operation? The point here - it strkes me - is that the physicians who performed the operation may now avoid said "vascular accident" when operating on a human subject.
Experience is key in medicine - and this live hands-on operation on a living organism was most likely an invaluable experience for the physicians and their respective communities.
It is sad the subject did not survive.
The debate related to the inequities related to the haves and have nots in America is not valid in the context of this story.
Posted by: NH Philosopher | September 02, 2008 at 01:31 PM
O MY
Posted by: Out of the blue | September 12, 2008 at 04:44 PM