[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":439},["ShallowReactive",2],{"slug-how-much-is-life-worth":3},{"post":4,"relatedPosts":206,"relatedBooks":351},{"id":5,"date":6,"date_gmt":7,"guid":8,"modified":10,"modified_gmt":11,"slug":12,"status":13,"type":14,"link":15,"title":16,"content":18,"excerpt":21,"author":23,"featured_media":24,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":29,"categories":30,"tags":35,"project_category":52,"contact_email_category":53,"yst_prominent_words":54,"class_list":69,"better_featured_image":96,"acf":133,"yoast_meta":150,"_links":153},24598,"2026-03-02T09:05:23","2026-03-02T08:05:23",{"rendered":9},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=24598&_wpnonce=1e9b26d6a0&status=auto-draft&type=post","2026-03-02T09:05:26","2026-03-02T08:05:26","how-much-is-life-worth","publish","post","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fhow-much-is-life-worth",{"rendered":17},"How Much Is Life Worth?",{"rendered":19,"protected":20},"\n\u003Cp>Multivitamins, drugs, gene therapies, human skin, heart, eyeballs, kidneys, entire dead bodies – everything comes with a price tag. Putting aside the moral questions of why and how the capitalist market prices even our body parts and health, we asked the question of how much life is worth. What is the maximum that you would\u002Fshould pay for a life-saving drug? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>How high is too high a cost if a drug can save 200-300 babies a year from a debilitating illness or death? And ultimately, does the pricing of new technologies, especially gene therapies, enable them to fulfill their promise? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How Much Is Your Life Worth? \u002F Episode 17 - The Medical Futurist\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002Fv4ymhGtzcKo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>There’s a\nprice for everything: butterflies, pieces of moon land, organs\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The world is a giant supermarket where you find price tags on everything. A rare butterfly \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ebay.co.uk\u002Fsch\u002Fi.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2334524.m570.l1313&_nkw=butterfly+taxidermy&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_odkw=rare+butterfly+taxidermy&_sop=3\" target=\"_blank\">can cost up to a grand on eBay\u003C\u002Fa>, an acre on the surface of the Moon is \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Flunarembassy.com\u002Fproduct\u002Fbuy-land-on-the-moon\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">available from $34.99\u003C\u002Fa> – although \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.forbes.com\u002Fsites\u002Fquora\u002F2019\u002F01\u002F16\u002Fcan-people-buy-plots-of-land-on-the-moon\u002F?sh=249e010642bc\" target=\"_blank\">we strongly discourage you from actually buying it \u003C\u002Fa> –, and your organs are also for sale. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>If you could harvest \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fwatch?v=yNOsoe44c40\" target=\"_blank\">every organ and chemical in your body\u003C\u002Fa>, you could make a $45 million. But in reality, as Medical Transcription estimates, the average price of a human dead body is more likely to fetch around $550,000 (with a few key body parts driving up the price). \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Contrary to popular belief, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.donoralliance.org\u002Fnewsroom\u002Fdonation-essentials\u002Fcan-you-sell-organs\u002F#:~:text=Selling%20Organs%20in%20the%20United,tissues%20in%20the%20United%20States.\" target=\"_blank\">you are not allowed to sell your organs for transplantation\u003C\u002Fa> purposes in the US. (Nor in any developed country). Although there is\u002Fwas a loophole not specifically banning the sale of bodies and organs for research purposes, the bad news for wannabe millionaires is that the only one making money from their tissues is a \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnypost.com\u002F2023\u002F06\u002F28\u002Fthe-body-parts-industry-is-boomingwith-heads-going-for-2k\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">cadaver broker\u003C\u002Fa>. And although \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnfda.org\u002Fnews\u002Fmedia-center\u002Fnfda-news-releases\u002Fid\u002F7475\u002Fcongress-takes-significant-step-to-regulate-body-brokers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">some regulatory adjustments\u003C\u002Fa> are happening, the progress is slow and not yet complete. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>According to the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fonlinedegreeinfinance.com\u002Fblack-market-body-worth\u002F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">widely used\u003C\u002Fa>, although somewhat hard-to-find-credit-for figures, a heart is worth around $1 million in the US. Livers come in second, worth about $557,000 and kidneys cost about $262,000 each. Not to speak about human skin ($10\u002Finch), stomach ($500), and eyeballs ($1,500 each). \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F03\u002Forgan-design-768x432.png\" alt=\"organ design, tmf, heart, tissue, bioprinting\" class=\"wp-image-41555\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F03\u002Forgan-design-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F03\u002Forgan-design-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F03\u002Forgan-design-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2022\u002F03\u002Forgan-design.png 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Unsurprisingly, organs are offered for less on the black market – but you never know where those body parts come from. And although the black market for organs is obviously not very transparent, it has been \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.euronews.com\u002F2022\u002F01\u002F12\u002Fextreme-poverty-drives-afghans-to-sell-vital-organs-to-feed-families\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">reported\u003C\u002Fa> numerous times that organ donors in developing countries – most often selling body parts to feed their families – will never see anything like the sums mentioned above, what they get is most likely a thousand dollars or maybe two. And we should also mention that transplantation tourism generates thousands, maybe tens of thousands of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.interpol.int\u002Fen\u002FNews-and-Events\u002FNews\u002F2021\u002FNorth-and-West-Africa-INTERPOL-report-highlights-human-trafficking-for-organ-removal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">victim donors\u003C\u002Fa> around the world every year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.researchgate.net\u002Ffigure\u002FAnnual-turnover-of-crime-from-illegal-trafficking-of-vital-organs_tbl1_375245443\" target=\"_blank\">This paper lists a price range\u003C\u002Fa>, stating that illegally harvested\u002Fsold kidneys are sold for $50,000 to $120,000, livers go for $99,000 to $145,000, the price tag of a heart is between $130,000 to $290,000, lungs for $150,000 to $290,000, while a pancreas can cost $110,000 to $140,000.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The prices of course are completely different if the intended use is not to implant organs, as we can read \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnypost.com\u002F2023\u002F06\u002F28\u002Fthe-body-parts-industry-is-boomingwith-heads-going-for-2k\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">in this news report\u003C\u002Fa> discussing the criminal case of Cedric Lodge, who \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fnypost.com\u002F2023\u002F06\u002F14\u002Fseven-charged-with-stealing-and-selling-human-remains\u002F\">stole body parts including heads and brains\u003C\u002Fa> that were donated for research at Harvard Medical School, and sold them online. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Still, the black market for organs is flourishing. Until technology, e.g. 3D bioprinting, doesn’t offer a viable solution for organ donation, it will remain that way – as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F3d-bioprinting-overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">there are too many waiting for organ transplantations\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cblockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>This article is one of the most popular ever written by The Medical Futurist, resulting in the team receiving a couple of offers about organs for sale each week. We would like to draw your attention to the fact that we have never been\u002Fand will never be involved in organ sales, and we strongly advise our readers to follow suit. We truly believe in the official organ donor systems of countries and are encouraging everyone to opt-in, as all countries are facing constant organ shortages and the transplantation waiting lists are long. In the unfortunate case of our untimely death, declaring our willingness to become donors can save 8 lives and help a number of others. \u003Cbr>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003Cbr>\u003Cem>\u003Cstrong>But any black market transaction involving human body parts should have the direst legal consequences for organ brokers, human traffickers, and wealthy organ recipients knowingly tricking people in need to sell out their body parts – often for very little money.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>So, it seems that your body parts are already labeled with a price tag. Scary, isn’t it? But in terms of the pricing practice, there’s not much difference when it comes to our overall health and life either. The distinction lies in that organs with price tags are not as visible to us as the price of therapies, drugs, or prosthetic body parts. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Almost every day you pay for your health by buying vitamins, pain medication, or lactose-free milk. The question is how much is the maximum that you would\u002Fshould pay for a life-saving drug? Is it fair to pay for life-saving drugs at all? \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Insulin and polio vaccines were not patented by their inventor\u003C\u002Fstrong>s\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Medication, especially life-saving drugs, should be available to everyone in need. In an ideal, utopian world, the means of healing people, the instruments for alleviating pain and suffering, and the assets to save lives wouldn’t cost a penny. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>When \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.vox.com\u002F2019\u002F4\u002F3\u002F18293950\u002Fwhy-is-insulin-so-expensive\" target=\"_blank\">inventor Frederick Banting discovered insulin in 1923\u003C\u002Fa>, he \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fthelancet.com\u002Fjournals\u002Flandia\u002Farticle\u002FPIIS2213-8587(17)30115-8\u002Ffulltext\" target=\"_blank\">refused to put his name on the patent\u003C\u002Fa>. He felt it was unethical for a doctor to profit from a discovery that would save lives. Banting’s co-inventors, James Collip, and Charles Best sold the insulin patent to the University of Toronto for a mere $1. They wanted everyone who needed their medication to be able to afford it. But we could list similar examples from Jonas Salk’s \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdepts.washington.edu\u002Fglobalhealthjustice\u002Fwaivers-on-vaccine-patents-would-save-lives\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">polio vaccine\u003C\u002Fa> to Röntgen’s \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.dpma.de\u002Fenglish\u002Four_office\u002Fpublications\u002Fmilestones\u002Finventionsthatmadehistory\u002Froentgensx-rays\u002Findex.html#:~:text=R%C3%B6ntgen%20was%20considered%20an%20introverted,become%20a%20millionaire%20by%20inheritance).\" target=\"_blank\">X-ray machine\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These noble gentlemen would definitely turn in their graves if they saw how far we have come since then: if they saw the price tags for certain drugs today or the pricing policies of certain pharma companies. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Many surely remember \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ftc.gov\u002Fnews-events\u002Fnews\u002Fpress-releases\u002F2024\u002F01\u002Fstatement-second-circuit-order-upholding-pharma-bro-martin-shkrelis-lifetime-ban\" target=\"_blank\">ill-famed Martin Shkreli\u003C\u002Fa> and the outrage he caused when he raised the price of Daraprim, a drug that treats the parasitic infection \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.cdc.gov\u002Fparasites\u002Ftoxoplasmosis\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">toxoplasmosis\u003C\u002Fa> and is used in some cases to treat cancer and AIDS, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2015\u002F09\u002F21\u002Fbusiness\u002Fa-huge-overnight-increase-in-a-drugs-price-raises-protests.html?_r=0&pagewanted=all\" target=\"_blank\">from $13.50 to $750.00 per pill\u003C\u002Fa> in 2015, which means a more than a 5,000 percent increase! Although a Bloomberg reporter \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bloomberg.com\u002Fnews\u002Fvideos\u002F2015-09-21\u002Fwhy-turing-increased-price-of-daraprim-over-500-\" target=\"_blank\">suggested\u003C\u002Fa> it should cost around $1 to make, and Shkreli himself acknowledged the drug takes “very little money” to make, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.huffpost.com\u002Fentry\u002Fmartin-shkreli-aids-drug-price-the-same_n_5aa3117fe4b07047bec694cb?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAJ_Hw2-dKv5wlQAxVRIJcWbSTrplnb7wBElDXYp_gQnmAEV2o_GFhiuO96CYx8mPyIF5q1XWOi6hxomEbt91UpJhW49-E0vMWccQHSS2_weonvqQWU5Ff1ZN_hFKPk7aozSu8uB9hctdsiCqu_zprVjlebRIzXaSzlFLhZ4PtI6Q\" target=\"_blank\">the medication still sells for hundreds of dollars\u003C\u002Fa>. Shkreli and his company were able to gouge the price as they acquired the sole rights to the drug’s sale in the U.S. without anyone else offering an alternative. A little side note: Shkreli was \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.npr.org\u002F2022\u002F05\u002F19\u002F1100019063\u002Fpharma-bro-martin-shkreli-been-released-from-prison\" target=\"_blank\">just released from prison\u003C\u002Fa> after he was found guilty of two counts of securities fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud. He was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2018.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Although Shkreli’s example is outrageous, he’s not the only one who did something similar. An article in \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fwww.nejm.org\u002Fdoi\u002Ffull\u002F10.1056\u002FNEJMp1408376\" target=\"_blank\">The New England Journal of Medicine\u003C\u002Fa> focused on how companies buy up the rights to old, inexpensive generic drugs, lock out competitors and raise prices. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>For instance, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2015\u002F01\u002F15\u002Fopinion\u002Fwhy-drugs-cost-so-much.html\" target=\"_blank\">albendazole, a drug for certain kinds of parasitic infections was approved back in 1996\u003C\u002Fa>. In 2010, its average wholesale cost was $5.92 per day, but by 2013, it rose to $119.58. Perhaps the most concerning piece of news was, though, that the price of insulin has risen uncontrollably in the United States. The cost of the \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fjamanetwork.com\u002Fjournals\u002Fjamainternalmedicine\u002Ffullarticle\u002F2717498\" target=\"_blank\">four most popular types of insulin\u003C\u002Fa> has tripled over the past decade, and the out-of-pocket prescription costs patients now face have doubled. By 2016, the average price per month \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2019\u002F04\u002F03\u002Fhealth\u002Fdrug-prices-insulin-express-scripts.html\">rose to $450\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, governmental regulation started to take note and act on it. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.govinfo.gov\u002Fapp\u002Fdetails\u002FBILLS-117hr6833pcs\u002Fsummary\">Affordable Insulin Now Act\u003C\u002Fa> \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pharmaceutical-technology.com\u002Fanalysis\u002Finsulin-pricing-reform-senate\u002F\">was supported by Congress\u003C\u002Fa> in 2022 and \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fedition.cnn.com\u002F2024\u002F01\u002F01\u002Fpolitics\u002Finsulin-price-cap\u002Findex.html\" target=\"_blank\">was approved in 2024\u003C\u002Fa> introducing a $35 cap on insulin prices\u002Fmonth nationwide.  \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>It’s certain that without efficient regulatory intervention, pharma companies won’t change their exaggerated pricing policies in the U.S. It is visible, for example, that in Western European countries where \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ftheconversation.com\u002Fwhy-the-us-has-higher-drug-prices-than-other-countries-111256\" target=\"_blank\">price controls are in place, medication costs are lower\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Rare diseases, unique therapies, unspeakable prices\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>However, the problem is not just the increase in the price of generic drugs such as insulin, but also the incredibly high prices of new therapies and treatment options for rare diseases. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The most expensive drug on the market in May 2024 \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fda.gov\u002Fnews-events\u002Fpress-announcements\u002Ffda-approves-first-gene-therapy-children-metachromatic-leukodystrophy\" target=\"_blank\">was Lenmeldy\u003C\u002Fa>, a gene therapy used to treat types of \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.drugs.com\u002Fcondition\u002Fmetachromatic-leukodystrophy.html\">metachromatic leukodystrophy\u003C\u002Fa> in children. A single dose costs $4,25 million, and it works by helping the body make the ARSA enzyme to help stop the progression of MLD, it does this using the patient’s own stem cells that have been modified. Lenmeldy is given as a one-time infusion. The FDA approved this drug in March 2024. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_393_CRISPR_gene_editing-768x432.png\" alt=\"gene editing, CRISPR, DNA\" class=\"wp-image-54001\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_393_CRISPR_gene_editing-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_393_CRISPR_gene_editing-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2023\u002F12\u002Ftmf_article_393_CRISPR_gene_editing.png 1520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Another well-known example is \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.fda.gov\u002Fnews-events\u002Fpress-announcements\u002Ffda-approves-innovative-gene-therapy-treat-pediatric-patients-spinal-muscular-atrophy-rare-disease\" target=\"_blank\">Zolgensma\u003C\u002Fa>, a gene therapy for a rare childhood disease, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fghr.nlm.nih.gov\u002Fcondition\u002Fspinal-muscular-atrophy\" target=\"_blank\">spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)\u003C\u002Fa> caused by a single gene. At the moment, it costs $2.1 million per patient. This experimental therapy means \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.npr.org\u002Fsections\u002Fhealth-shots\u002F2019\u002F05\u002F24\u002F725404168\u002Fat-2-125-million-new-gene-therapy-is-the-most-expensive-drug-ever?t=1566983817416\" target=\"_blank\">infusing the patient with genetically modified viruses carrying healthy copies of the gene needed\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Other revolutionary gene therapies are underway – and many fear that while they have the potential to eliminate lethal childhood diseases and other rare conditions, no one’s going to pay for them as their price is set too high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Are the “\u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.drugs.com\u002Farticle\u002Ftop-10-most-expensive-drugs.html\" target=\"_blank\">most expensive therapies ever\u003C\u002Fa>” really the most expensive ever? \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002F33908277\u002F#:~:text=At%20an%20upfront%20price%20of,characterization%20raises%20important%20methodological%20and\" target=\"_blank\">This study\u003C\u002Fa> tried to assess the values of these therapies and came to the conclusion that economic evaluation of novel therapies requires careful comparison of lifetime cost and benefits vs standard of care, including adjustments for pricing distortions. We also have to note though that the study was funded by Novartis Gene Therapies Inc., so we might have to wait for more research before drawing a final conclusion. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u003Cstrong>Why are gene therapies so highly priced?\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The pricing of medication and therapies is often way too complex and sometimes, as in the above cases of insulin and Daraprim, it seems to be way too arbitrary. \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nytimes.com\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F25\u002Fhealth\u002Fdrug-prices-rare-diseases.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Experts say\u003C\u002Fa> that now that cheaper generic drugs account for about 90 percent of all prescriptions filled in the United States, pharmaceutical companies are turning to rare disease treatments and gene therapies as their next profit engine, with major companies like Pfizer and Novartis investing in drugs for tiny pools of patients. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>The question arises naturally: should a premium be paid for the treatment of diseases that are considered ‘rare’? What should be a reasonable price for what is called an orphan drug? Is it a viable method that rare disease drugs are priced based on a patient’s weight – meaning that a prescription for an adult costs many times more than one for a child? Could it be the solution when \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bloomberg.com\u002Fnews\u002Farticles\u002F2019-04-07\u002Fgene-therapy-was-hailed-as-a-revolution-then-came-the-bill\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">therapies are paid for in installments\u003C\u002Fa>?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"432\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_409_b-768x432.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-55697\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_409_b-768x432.png 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_409_b-370x208.png 370w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_409_b-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_409_b-2048x1152.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>When \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdailynous.com\u002F2015\u002F09\u002F28\u002Fphilosophers-on-drug-prices\u002F\">asked about\u003C\u002Fa> fair pricing on drugs, Samia Hurst bioethicist said that “making a profit from finding, developing, and selling pharmaceuticals is legitimate, although we were never truly clear about what made it so. Perhaps we approve of this profit because we believe that the effort and creativity involved in bringing a new drug to the market deserve to be paid for. Perhaps we consider that the manufacture of a drug also merits payment. Perhaps we are not considering merit at all, but looking to the consequences: we want to incentivize the development of new therapeutic advances. Perhaps we want to guarantee that access to needed medical therapies is kept up by the profit motive”. That all could be a drive behind allowing pharma companies to ask for fair profit margins put above the costs of research and development.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Also, \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fdailynous.com\u002F2015\u002F09\u002F28\u002Fphilosophers-on-drug-prices\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">political philosopher Matt Zwolinski argues\u003C\u002Fa> that those high prices are not only necessary to recoup the cost spent researching and developing that drug but also the hundreds of other drugs that never made it to market. Charging a price that’s well above the “marginal cost of production” is the only way companies can make a normal level of profit over the long run, and therefore the only way to ensure that society gets the new drugs it needs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Moreover, if we compare \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fprecision-medicine-best-hope-fight-cancer\" target=\"_blank\">personalised thera\u003C\u002Fa>pies with generic solutions that have been used up until now, their advantage is clear. On the one hand, they offer an efficient solution – and heal patients from diseases that were untreatable before, and on the other hand, they are much more cost-efficient in the long run when looking at the entire society. Thus, the development of personalised treatment solutions is definitely the way forward – although companies should come up with better options for payment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Ultimately, the \u003Ca style=\"\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002F22789042\u002F\">Human Rights Guidelines for Pharmaceutical Companies in Relation to Access to Medicines\u003C\u002Fa> specify that “companies must do all they reasonably can to ensure that medicines are available in sufficient quantities in the countries where they are needed.” \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>They also suggest that companies are \u003Ca href=\"http:\u002F\u002Fdailynous.com\u002F2015\u002F09\u002F28\u002Fphilosophers-on-drug-prices\u002F\">obligated to contribute to the development of drugs for neglected diseases\u003C\u002Fa>. Thus, companies must make sure the drugs they produce are accessible to all patient groups – not just rich patients or those in developed countries, driving others to desperate solutions such as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Fis-crowdfunding-the-grim-future-of-health-insurance\">crowdfunding\u003C\u002Fa> or not going to the hospital for treatment at all. Only then could gene therapies and other revolutionary healing methods fulfill their potential in making patients’ lives better.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ctable style=\"width: 100%; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: #eee; border-top: 4px solid #444;\" cellpadding=\"10px\">\n\u003Ctbody>\n\u003Ctr>\n\u003Ctd style=\"width: 100%;\">\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>At The Medical Futurist, we are building a community for making a bold vision about the future of healthcare reality today.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FFIbMejImnxs?hl=en&cc_lang_pref=en&cc=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\">\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003Cp>If you’d like to support this mission, we invite you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">join The Medical Futurist Patreon Community\u003C\u002Fa>. A community of empowered patients, future-oriented healthcare professionals, concerned health policymakers, sensible health tech developers, and enthusiastic medical students. If there were ever a time to join us, it is now. Every contribution, however big or small, powers our research and sustains our future.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.patreon.com\u002Fthemedicalfuturist\">\u003Cstrong style=\"background-color: #e71d3299; color: #000;\">Click here to support The Medical Futurist from as little as $3\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa> – it only takes a minute. Thank you.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003C\u002Ftd>\n\u003C\u002Ftr>\n\u003C\u002Ftbody>\n\u003C\u002Ftable>\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n",false,{"rendered":22,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>We asked the question how much life is worth? A heart can be purchased for $1000000. Livers are worth about $557000 & kidneys cost about $262000.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",6,24604,"closed",true,"","standard",{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[31,32,33,34],511,500,490,488,[36,37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51],253,1154,255,1455,260,1456,425,1457,1458,1459,1460,846,217,994,229,996,[],[],[55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68],1633,1883,2215,2217,2219,2227,2233,2235,1599,2239,1609,2241,1613,3271,[70,14,71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90,91,92,93,94,95],"post-24598","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bioethics","category-biotechnology","category-future-of-pharma","category-genomics","tag-gene","tag-medication","tag-gene-therapy","tag-rare-disease","tag-genetics","tag-daraprim","tag-technology-2","tag-drug-price","tag-pricing-policy","tag-rare-disorder","tag-cost","tag-insulin","tag-drug","tag-life","tag-ethics","tag-bioethics",{"id":24,"alt_text":97,"caption":27,"description":27,"media_type":98,"media_details":99,"post":5,"source_url":132},"life worth","image",{"width":100,"height":101,"file":102,"sizes":103,"image_meta":130},1920,1080,"2019\u002F08\u002F104_How-much-is-life-worth.png",{"medium":104,"large":110,"thumbnail":115,"medium_large":119,"1536x1536":120,"2048x2048":125},{"file":105,"width":106,"height":107,"mime-type":108,"source_url":109},"104_How-much-is-life-worth-370x208.png","370","208","image\u002Fpng","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F104_How-much-is-life-worth-370x208.png",{"file":111,"width":112,"height":113,"mime-type":108,"source_url":114},"104_How-much-is-life-worth-768x432.png","768","432","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F104_How-much-is-life-worth-768x432.png",{"file":116,"width":117,"height":117,"mime-type":108,"source_url":118},"104_How-much-is-life-worth-150x150.png","150","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F104_How-much-is-life-worth-150x150.png",{"file":111,"width":112,"height":113,"mime-type":108,"source_url":114},{"file":121,"width":122,"height":123,"mime-type":108,"source_url":124},"104_How-much-is-life-worth-1536x864.png","1536","864","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F104_How-much-is-life-worth-1536x864.png",{"file":126,"width":127,"height":128,"mime-type":108,"source_url":129},"104_How-much-is-life-worth-2048x1152.png","2048","1152","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F104_How-much-is-life-worth-2048x1152.png",{"aperture":131,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":131,"copyright":27,"focal_length":131,"iso":131,"shutter_speed":131,"title":27,"orientation":131},"0","https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2019\u002F08\u002F104_How-much-is-life-worth-scaled.png",{"related_posts":20,"related_posts_footer":134,"cta_type":138,"cta_color":27,"subtitle":27,"related_books":139,"key_takeaways":143},[135,136,137],55683,55459,55791,"subscribe",[140,141,142],24765,52203,55605,[144,146,148],{"title":145},"\u003Cp>If you try hard enough, you can put a price tag on everything, from rare butterflies to kidneys and human hearts, everyday and rare treatments and ultimately human health\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":147},"\u003Cp>While there is a serious shortage of available donor organs all over the world, the illegal organ trade can not be stopped, illegal transplants being a trillion-dollar trade globally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":149},"\u003Cp>We need to raise a range of ethical, financial, and philosophical questions when trying to answer the question: how much is life worth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"yoast_wpseo_title":151,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":152,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":15},"How Much Is Life Worth? - The Medical Futurist - Bioethics","We asked the question How Much is Life Worth? A heart can be purchased for $1000000. Livers are worth about $557000 & kidneys cost about $262000",{"self":154,"collection":160,"about":163,"author":166,"replies":169,"version-history":172,"predecessor-version":176,"wp:featuredmedia":180,"wp:attachment":183,"wp:term":186,"curies":202},[155],{"href":156,"targetHints":157},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24598",{"allow":158},[159],"GET",[161],{"href":162},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts",[164],{"href":165},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftypes\u002Fpost",[167],{"embeddable":26,"href":168},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fusers\u002F6",[170],{"embeddable":26,"href":171},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=24598",[173],{"count":174,"href":175},41,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24598\u002Frevisions",[177],{"id":178,"href":179},58531,"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fposts\u002F24598\u002Frevisions\u002F58531",[181],{"embeddable":26,"href":182},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F24604",[184],{"href":185},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=24598",[187,190,193,196,199],{"taxonomy":188,"embeddable":26,"href":189},"category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcategories?post=24598",{"taxonomy":191,"embeddable":26,"href":192},"post_tag","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftags?post=24598",{"taxonomy":194,"embeddable":26,"href":195},"project_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fproject_category?post=24598",{"taxonomy":197,"embeddable":26,"href":198},"contact_email_category","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcontact_email_category?post=24598",{"taxonomy":200,"embeddable":26,"href":201},"yst_prominent_words","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=24598",[203],{"name":204,"href":205,"templated":26},"wp","https:\u002F\u002Fapi.w.org\u002F{rel}",[207],{"id":137,"date":208,"date_gmt":209,"guid":210,"modified":212,"modified_gmt":213,"slug":214,"status":13,"type":14,"link":215,"title":216,"content":218,"excerpt":220,"author":23,"featured_media":222,"comment_status":25,"ping_status":25,"sticky":26,"template":27,"format":28,"meta":223,"categories":224,"tags":228,"project_category":233,"contact_email_category":236,"yst_prominent_words":237,"class_list":243,"better_featured_image":254,"acf":295,"yoast_meta":307,"_links":309},"2024-05-02T09:30:00","2024-05-02T07:30:00",{"rendered":211},"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002F?post_id=55791&_wpnonce=e1a814c8e0&status=auto-draft&type=post","2024-05-02T08:00:48","2024-05-02T06:00:48","tech-vs-tremors-digital-health-tools-for-tremor-management","https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ftech-vs-tremors-digital-health-tools-for-tremor-management",{"rendered":217},"Tech Vs Tremors: Digital Health Tools For Tremor Management",{"rendered":219,"protected":20},"\n\u003Cp>Tremors, these little, involuntary movements may seem like “just some shaking of the hand, nothing to fuss about” for the outsider, but can actually significantly damage the daily life and well-being of those affected. Tremors can disrupt basic daily activities like eating, dressing, writing, or using technology, can cause social anxiety and self-consciousness, and in more severe cases can interfere with work or driving a car and thus undermine a person’s autonomy. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>And they are not exactly rare: according to conservative estimates,\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fessentialtremor.org\u002Fhow-common-is-essential-tremor\u002F\"> approximately 1% of people\u003C\u002Fa> have essential tremors. Meanwhile, other sources, like the University of Michigan Health System Movement Disorder Program say the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.uofmhealth.org\u002Fconditions-treatments\u002Fbrain-neurological-conditions\u002Fessential-tremor\">prevalence is closer to 5%\u003C\u002Fa>. The actual figure might be \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.neurology.org\u002Fdoi\u002F10.1212\u002FWNL.94.15_supplement.4458\">somewhere in between\u003C\u002Fa>, but we know for certain that tremors get significantly more prevalent with age.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Medicine aims to help tremor patients in several ways, offering drugs, surgical treatments, and increasingly, non-invasive digital health methods. With this analysis, we wanted to provide an overview of this latter field: how technology can help patients with tremors. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">\u003Cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"543\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FHapifork_TMF-768x543.jpg\" alt=\"tremors, digital health, hapifork\" class=\"wp-image-22523\" srcset=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FHapifork_TMF-768x543.jpg 768w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FHapifork_TMF-512x362.jpg 512w, https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2018\u002F12\u002FHapifork_TMF.jpg 870w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \u002F>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Tremors are involuntary, rhythmic muscle contractions that cause shaking movements in one or more body parts. The oscillations may be rapid or slow, occur at rest or during movement, and vary in severity. They are common and can affect people of all ages. Tremors can emerge as a benign condition without a serious health implication, known as physiological tremor, or indicate a more complex neurological condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Tremors can be categorised by their cause (essential tremors, tremors caused by neurological diseases, and various other causes), and we can also differentiate between resting and action tremors. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Ch2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What non-invasive technologies can help tremor patients?\u003C\u002Fh2>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Given the incredibly complex web of potential cases and tremor types, the palette of available solutions is also extremely diverse. We recently reported about the Gyroglove, a smart device using the principle of gyroscopes to stabilise hand movements. Unfortunately, its $6000 price tag also means it will never become widely available for tremor patients. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The GyroGlove™ by GyroGear™ - Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 Innovation Awards\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002F9pZI2LdbOJo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>A similar product with a significantly lower price is \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fsteadiwear.com\u002Fproducts\u002Fsteadi-two\">called the Steadi-Two\u003C\u002Fa>. While $650 is still not cheap, it is one large step closer to being affordable for everyday folks. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>But gloves are by far not the only way to help patients with tremors. We introduced \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.liftware.com\u002F\">these smart utensils\u003C\u002Fa> 7 years ago as \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fmedicalfuturist.com\u002Ffinest-examples-brilliant-healthcare-design\u002F\">examples of brilliant design\u003C\u002Fa>. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>As \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\u002Fpmc\u002Farticles\u002FPMC9863142\u002F\">this study summarises\u003C\u002Fa>, these are just the tips of the iceberg. Tremor patients can use: \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Wearable Sensors for tremor detection\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These devices track the frequency, amplitude, and patterns of tremors. This data helps doctors understand the severity of the condition and tailor treatment more effectively. An example of this is the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.glneurotech.com\u002Fproducts\u002Fkinesiau\u002F\">Kinesia line\u003C\u002Fa> from Great Lake Neurotechnologies that in the US can be prescribed to patients. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Bracelet-based tremor suppressive devices\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These bracelets often use vibration therapy or mild electrical stimulation to disrupt the nerve signals responsible for the tremors. An example is \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcalahealth.com\u002F\">the Cala kIQ\u003C\u002Fa>, formerly known as Cala Trio, which can also be prescribed in the US. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Glove-based tremor suppressive device\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Similar to the bracelet, this wearable fits over the entire hand and uses sensors and motors to provide counter-movements to the tremors, offering stability and improved motor control. Examples include the previously mentioned and linked GyroGlove and SteadiTwo. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Orthosis for tremor suppression\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Orthotic devices are custom-fitted braces that provide support and stability to a limb or the torso. For tremor suppression, they might be designed to restrict tremor-prone movements while allowing for intended motion. Products from \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.readi-steadi.com\u002F\">Readi-steadi\u003C\u002Fa> belong to this category.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Stabilising tray for tremor suppression\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These trays are designed to be carried by individuals with tremors. They might have built-in mechanisms, such as springs or electronic stabilization, to keep the tray level and contents secure. An example of this is the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fyoutu.be\u002F6hmTzS-20E0?si=fwWn_DHGMldj4L2x&t=41\">Unspillable Tray, shown here\u003C\u002Fa> in action. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cfigure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\">\u003Cdiv class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n\u003Ciframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How Does The Unspillable Tray Work?\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002F6hmTzS-20E0?start=41&feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen>\u003C\u002Fiframe>\n\u003C\u002Fdiv>\u003C\u002Ffigure>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp> \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Stabilising spoon\u002Futensils for tremor suppression\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>Eating utensils with either tremor-cancellation technology or very specific shapes and design that allow individuals to eat without spilling food, providing them with more independence during meals. A good selection of such devices \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fessentialtremor.org\u002Fresource\u002Fassistive-devices\u002F#1583851853520-c9c3eed7-8a8e\">can be found here\u003C\u002Fa> under the “Utensil and Cooking” section. \u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>PC mouse control and other computer aids\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>These devices and software are designed to help users with tremors. The category includes uniquely designed hardware like the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fcontourdesign.store\u002F\">Rollermouse\u003C\u002Fa> and anti-tremor filtering software like \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.steadymouse.com\u002F\">SteadyMouse\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Specific devices for Parkinson’s patients\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>This paper introduces a range of wearable devices for Parkinson’s patients. These include monitoring devices like the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pdneurotechnology.com\u002Fpd-monitor-solution\u002Fproduct\u002F\">PD Monitor\u003C\u002Fa>, the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fdementech.com\u002Fparkinsons-kinetigraph-pkg\u002F\">Parkinson’s KinetiGraph\u003C\u002Fa> (PKG), the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.statonholter.com\u002F\">Stat-On Holter\u003C\u002Fa>, the already mentioned Kinesia devices, movement monitors like \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.mcroberts.nl\u002Fproducts\u002Fdynaport7\u002F\">DynaPort\u003C\u002Fa>, or \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffeetmehealth.com\u002F\">FeetMe\u003C\u002Fa>, and the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fapdm.com\u002Fwearable-sensors\u002F\">Opal sensors from APDM\u003C\u002Fa>. All devices in this category are class I or class II medical devices, and most have both CE and FDA clearing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\n\n\n\u003Cp>While still an under-explored area, the potential of digital health solutions for tremor patients is undeniable. Though tremor-focused initiatives might not dominate top headlines or investment rounds, these technologies have the power to revolutionise patient care. And in a recent big step forward, the European Parliament just \u003Ca rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.med-technews.com\u002Fnews\u002Flatest-medtech-news\u002Feuropean-parliament-recognises-essential-tremor-as-official-disease-in-ground-breaking-declaration\u002F\" target=\"_blank\">recognized essential tremor as a disease\u003C\u002Fa>, aiming to channel increased R&D funding to this area and forming a “comprehensive European strategy for brain disorders”. We remain committed to monitoring innovations in this space, as we firmly believe digital health can offer new avenues for better symptom management, personalised treatment, and a significantly improved quality of life for those living with tremors. \u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":221,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>Discover how digital health tools can help manage tremors, from wearable sensors and stabilizing utensils to tremor-suppressing gloves and computer aids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",55799,{"_acf_changed":20,"footnotes":27},[225,226,227],7079,496,497,[229,230,231,232],7941,207,453,7939,[234,235],950,951,[],[238,239,240,241,242],1571,1587,1617,1631,4295,[244,14,71,72,73,74,75,245,246,247,248,249,250,251,252,253],"post-55791","category-tmf","category-health-sensors-trackers","category-portable-diagnostics","tag-essenital-tremors","tag-digital-health","tag-wearables-2","tag-tremors","project_category-medical-professionals","project_category-patients",{"id":222,"alt_text":255,"caption":27,"description":27,"media_type":98,"media_details":256,"post":137,"source_url":294},"tremor, tremors, digital health, Parkinson's, essential tremors",{"width":257,"height":258,"file":259,"filesize":260,"sizes":261,"image_meta":292},6667,3750,"2024\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_412-v2.png",520823,{"medium":262,"large":268,"thumbnail":274,"medium_large":279,"1536x1536":280,"2048x2048":286},{"file":263,"width":264,"height":265,"mime-type":108,"filesize":266,"source_url":267},"tmf_article_412-v2-370x208.png",370,208,22026,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_412-v2-370x208.png",{"file":269,"width":270,"height":271,"mime-type":108,"filesize":272,"source_url":273},"tmf_article_412-v2-768x432.png",768,432,52873,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_412-v2-768x432.png",{"file":275,"width":276,"height":276,"mime-type":108,"filesize":277,"source_url":278},"tmf_article_412-v2-150x150.png",150,10034,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_412-v2-150x150.png",{"file":269,"width":270,"height":271,"mime-type":108,"filesize":272,"source_url":273},{"file":281,"width":282,"height":283,"mime-type":108,"filesize":284,"source_url":285},"tmf_article_412-v2-1536x864.png",1536,864,118977,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_412-v2-1536x864.png",{"file":287,"width":288,"height":289,"mime-type":108,"filesize":290,"source_url":291},"tmf_article_412-v2-2048x1152.png",2048,1152,170853,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_412-v2-2048x1152.png",{"aperture":131,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":131,"copyright":27,"focal_length":131,"iso":131,"shutter_speed":131,"title":27,"orientation":131,"keywords":293},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002Ftmf_article_412-v2.png",{"cta_type":138,"cta_color":27,"related_books":296,"related_posts_footer":298,"related_posts":20,"subtitle":27,"key_takeaways":300},[140,141,297],24761,[135,299,136],54887,[301,303,305],{"title":302},"\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tremors can significantly disrupt daily life, impacting physical independence, social interactions, and overall well-being.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":304},"\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beyond medications and surgery, digital health technologies offer non-invasive solutions for tremor management.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"title":306},"\u003Cp>\u003Cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These tools, from motion-tracking wearables to computer interface adaptations, from wearable sensors to stabilizing utensils and wearables mean better quality of life and increased independence for patients.\u003C\u002Fspan>\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"yoast_wpseo_title":217,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":308,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":215},"Discover how digital health tools can help manage tremors, from wearable sensors and stabilizing utensils to tremor-suppressing gloves and computer 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Questions and Answers about AI in Healthcare",{"rendered":365,"protected":20},"\n\u003Cp>Discover artificial intelligence in healthcare in “100 Questions and Answers About Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare.” This guide explores AI’s impact on patient care, diagnosis, treatment, and policy. Through concise answers, backed by research and real-world examples, unlock AI’s potential to revolutionize medicine. With practical insights and relevant links for further exploration, this book equips readers to navigate the AI-driven future of healthcare effortlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n",{"rendered":367,"protected":20},"\u003Cp>Discover artificial intelligence in healthcare in “100 Questions and Answers About Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare.” This guide explores AI’s impact on patient care, diagnosis, treatment, […]\u003C\u002Fp>\n",55611,[370,371,372,373,374,375],1801,1715,1809,1683,1805,1813,[377,360,378,72,74,75],"post-55605","type-book",{"id":368,"alt_text":27,"caption":27,"description":27,"media_type":98,"media_details":380,"post":142,"source_url":402},{"width":381,"height":382,"file":383,"filesize":384,"sizes":385,"image_meta":400},923,1196,"2024\u002F04\u002F100-questions.png",346216,{"medium":386,"large":390,"thumbnail":395,"medium_large":399},{"file":387,"width":264,"height":265,"mime-type":108,"filesize":388,"source_url":389},"100-questions-370x208.png",114709,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002F100-questions-370x208.png",{"file":391,"width":270,"height":392,"mime-type":108,"filesize":393,"source_url":394},"100-questions-768x995.png",995,894359,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002F100-questions-768x995.png",{"file":396,"width":276,"height":276,"mime-type":108,"filesize":397,"source_url":398},"100-questions-150x150.png",36705,"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002F100-questions-150x150.png",{"file":391,"width":270,"height":392,"mime-type":108,"filesize":393,"source_url":394},{"aperture":131,"credit":27,"camera":27,"caption":27,"created_timestamp":131,"copyright":27,"focal_length":131,"iso":131,"shutter_speed":131,"title":27,"orientation":131,"keywords":401},[],"https:\u002F\u002Fcdn.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-content\u002Fuploads\u002F2024\u002F04\u002F100-questions.png",{"buy_button_text":404,"leanpub_url":405,"preview":406},"Get it on Leanpub","https:\u002F\u002Fleanpub.com\u002F100-questions-about-ai-in-healthcare",[407],{"image":402},{"yoast_wpseo_title":409,"yoast_wpseo_metadesc":410,"yoast_wpseo_canonical":361},"AI in Healthcare - 100 Questions and Answers - The Medical Futurist","Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare - 100 Questions and Answers: Explore AI's impact on healthcare in \"100 Questions & Answers About AI in Healthcare\"",{"self":412,"collection":417,"about":420,"author":423,"replies":425,"wp:featuredmedia":428,"wp:attachment":431,"wp:term":434,"curies":437},[413],{"href":414,"targetHints":415},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fbook\u002F55605",{"allow":416},[159],[418],{"href":419},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fbook",[421],{"href":422},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Ftypes\u002Fbook",[424],{"embeddable":26,"href":168},[426],{"embeddable":26,"href":427},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fcomments?post=55605",[429],{"embeddable":26,"href":430},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia\u002F55611",[432],{"href":433},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fmedia?parent=55605",[435],{"taxonomy":200,"embeddable":26,"href":436},"https:\u002F\u002Fapi.medicalfuturist.com\u002Fwp-json\u002Fwp\u002Fv2\u002Fyst_prominent_words?post=55605",[438],{"name":204,"href":205,"templated":26},1786367688487]