Re: Bashing Amputee Consumerism
bronco
Description
Collection
Title:
Re: Bashing Amputee Consumerism
Creator:
bronco
Date:
10/13/1999
Text:
ARE WE ON THE SAME TEAM? I THINK SO.
QUIT THIS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
----- Original Message -----
From: George Boyer < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: < <Email Address Redacted> >
Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 1999 7:48 PM
Subject: Bashing Amputee Consumerism
> Brothers in the rehabilitation effort and fellow amputees:
>
> If this isn't a marvel.....Ol' Ian goes to AOPA and is.....REBORN!!!
Comes back braying,
> veritably, a contrived line of cant with ONE design in mind: to quash the
union idea. But
> cute Ian is talking right out of the pocket of the industry, of AOPA,
where he has resided
> for some time. Noooooo way! Those who go to bed with the industry will
not champion the
> amputee. I don't know who, just now, will successfully organize the AUA,
but certainly not
> Ian. (Perhaps someone like Tony Barr after his present enterprise is
stilled, either by
> success or failure.) You notice that Ian isn't talking meaningful
residencies or
> professional specialization, things which are too close to home, too
sensitive. Or
> splitting off from the commerce and fabrication parts of the current way
prosthetics is
> practiced. What Ian is providing an engine toward is a tamed 'consumer'
effort which will
> basically keep the status quo intact.
>
> But I don't want to be too hard on Ian, whose basic problem is that he
lacks understanding.
> He bashes me because he thinks that the poorly understood disease which
caused the
> amputation of my leg was somehow less...honorable?...than the chance which
put his leg
> between the couplings of a train......very similar occurrences in that
neither resulted from
> choice. Perhaps as Ian grows older his understanding of such matters will
also grow.
>
> Right now Ian has to decide which is more important to him.....to truly
champion the cause
> of amputees in the marketplace (and elsewhere) OR to be an industry wolf
in amputee's
> clothing. And don't let Old Ian fool you! I am not a closet anything.
Let's make sure
> that Ian is not a closet....wolf?
>
> George Boyer
>
>
> Ian Gregson wrote:
>
> > Fellow OandP'ers:
> >
> > As many of you know I attended the AOPA conference over the weekend in
Reno.
> >
> > It was my first large scale prosthetic conference, I have attend CAPO
> > and ACA events in the past which have been about a sixth the size.
> >
> > I attended AOPA for numerous reasons, but mainly to see how the other
> > half lives. People had told me what it would be like and how
> > different it would be from ACA events - I guess I was expecting only
> > a fraction of what I finally ended up seeing and believing.
> >
> > First of all I had AOPA explained to me - its a business organisation
> > made up of facility owners and prosthetists (does this sound right).
> > Amongst other things it lobbies in Washington for legislation to
> > protect the prosthetic industry.
> >
> > After getting over the size of the whole thing and talking to many of
> > you from the list I believe I received an accurate picture of the big
> > picture.
> >
> > I knew there would be little in the way of amputee consumerism at
> > AOPA, but I was still taken aback by the total and complete lack of
> > it. About the only thing I did notice was that some of the more net
> > savvy companies used the term consumer at least around me - but
> > most still used the term patient.
> >
> > A number of you asked me about the Amputee Union that George Boyer
> > was drolling an about a few weeks back. A few even congratulated me
> > on shutting old George up. I didn't dismiss the idea of an amputee
> > union - I just didn't think George Boyer was the right person to
> > extolling the virtues of such a concept.
> >
> > After arriving back home I have passed along my first impressions
> > back to my SJU list members. I have also received word that one of
> > the companies that I am currently reselling products for, has
> > received complaints from prosthetists due to me selling products
> > directly online. I suppose prosthetists have a right to complain
> > about competition from upstart amputees like myself, especially when
> > they threaten to boycott the manufacturers who sell direct.
> >
> > However, since I do have the names of the prosthetists and companies
> > they work for, do you not think that amputee consumers have the same
> > ability and rights to boycott said prosthetists ? When such a
> > monopoly is more than apparent the atmosphere for the creation of an
> > Amputee Union is ripe. And you have no one to blame but yourselves.
> > When people or insurance is being billed 200-300 per cent over cost
> > for a pair of liners don't you think this creates the right
> > environment for some consumer activation ? And don't whine to me
> > about overheads, business is business he who sells low wins, keeping
> > overheads down is part of operating a succesful business.
> >
> > We are not talking about knees or feet here. We are talking about
> > products that are usually handed over to the amputee. Nothing more
> > technical that an ak or bk sleeve. The orthotic industry sells more
> > technically complicated products over the counter - why can't the
> > prosthetic industry follow the same?
> >
> > The whole premise of amputees buying direct is just the tip of a very
> > large iceberg - let me clarify for those who don't see the
> > connections.
> >
> > Let me tell you more about how an Amputee Union will work. It won't
> > depend on the industry for support and cash, it won't have any
> > mandate to provide support for amputees, it will simply be an
> > industry watchdog, reporting to the right governmental agencies and
> > insurance companies about falling industry standards - sounds scary
> > doesn't it ? They would probably start picketing AOPA events and
> > garnering the media attention that AOPA severely lacks and
> > underestimates. The American public love a David and Goliath
> > wrestling match don't they ?
> >
> > What can you do to stop this ?
> >
> > First of all there is a misconception that an active amputee consumer
> > body somehow translates in to reduced revenue for the industry. These
> > consumers still need prostheses - they still need them to be serviced
> > etc. - that isn't going anywhere.
> >
> > Secondly there are far more unethical prosthetists out there that
> > people will admit to. Now is the time to start weeding them out,
> > because if the industry does not, a well organised, well funded
> > consumer group WILL and it will look a lot uglier. Can you spell
> > WITCH-HUNT ? Increased licencing standards are one way to go with
> > renewals needed every five years.
> >
> > Thirdly, open up at least one day of AOPA to the general public, if
> > only for educational purposes. There is too much mystery, smoke and
> > mirrors and general misunderstanding about prosthetic limbs, you can
> > even charge an entrance fee for extra revenue. Other industries do it
> > - why not this one ?
> >
> > Yes I know I am naive and don't operate a facility - but I can tell
> > you I can spot a trend and if you think there are too many uppity
> > amputees out there now - just keep going the way you are going and
> > you will think this era as the glory days. Five years from now an
> > active consumer group will make your business even more of a
> > challenge.
> >
> > Finally, many of you admire the tenacity of how amputees deal with
> > their amputations. You have seen countless numbers of amputee's come
> > though your doors. Many of you respect (or at least recognise) how we
> > deal with loss and the recovery - even if it brings out the best and
> > worst of us. Imagine if that power of recovery was channeled (even
> > partially) in to a consumer oriented group that has in its sights an
> > industry that no longer seems to care about them. Once organised this
> > would be a force so motivated and powerful that all the dollars you
> > have could not combat it. An amputee jihad maybe. And don't think
> > it can't happen - people with other types of disabilities are already
> > doing it all over the world - we won't have to look far for succesful
> > examples.
> >
> > Why should you let it get to that point ?
> >
> > You have the capabilities to do something about it now.
> >
> > Yes, I learned a lot from AOPA, but I also had a lot of issues
> > confirmed. You might not have an active consumer group right now -
> > from someone who knows amputee issues trust me it is coming.
> >
> > You can choose to fight it as you have been doing or work with it.
> >
> > =================================================
> > Ian Gregson ( <Email Address Redacted> )
>
>
QUIT THIS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
----- Original Message -----
From: George Boyer < <Email Address Redacted> >
To: < <Email Address Redacted> >
Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 1999 7:48 PM
Subject: Bashing Amputee Consumerism
> Brothers in the rehabilitation effort and fellow amputees:
>
> If this isn't a marvel.....Ol' Ian goes to AOPA and is.....REBORN!!!
Comes back braying,
> veritably, a contrived line of cant with ONE design in mind: to quash the
union idea. But
> cute Ian is talking right out of the pocket of the industry, of AOPA,
where he has resided
> for some time. Noooooo way! Those who go to bed with the industry will
not champion the
> amputee. I don't know who, just now, will successfully organize the AUA,
but certainly not
> Ian. (Perhaps someone like Tony Barr after his present enterprise is
stilled, either by
> success or failure.) You notice that Ian isn't talking meaningful
residencies or
> professional specialization, things which are too close to home, too
sensitive. Or
> splitting off from the commerce and fabrication parts of the current way
prosthetics is
> practiced. What Ian is providing an engine toward is a tamed 'consumer'
effort which will
> basically keep the status quo intact.
>
> But I don't want to be too hard on Ian, whose basic problem is that he
lacks understanding.
> He bashes me because he thinks that the poorly understood disease which
caused the
> amputation of my leg was somehow less...honorable?...than the chance which
put his leg
> between the couplings of a train......very similar occurrences in that
neither resulted from
> choice. Perhaps as Ian grows older his understanding of such matters will
also grow.
>
> Right now Ian has to decide which is more important to him.....to truly
champion the cause
> of amputees in the marketplace (and elsewhere) OR to be an industry wolf
in amputee's
> clothing. And don't let Old Ian fool you! I am not a closet anything.
Let's make sure
> that Ian is not a closet....wolf?
>
> George Boyer
>
>
> Ian Gregson wrote:
>
> > Fellow OandP'ers:
> >
> > As many of you know I attended the AOPA conference over the weekend in
Reno.
> >
> > It was my first large scale prosthetic conference, I have attend CAPO
> > and ACA events in the past which have been about a sixth the size.
> >
> > I attended AOPA for numerous reasons, but mainly to see how the other
> > half lives. People had told me what it would be like and how
> > different it would be from ACA events - I guess I was expecting only
> > a fraction of what I finally ended up seeing and believing.
> >
> > First of all I had AOPA explained to me - its a business organisation
> > made up of facility owners and prosthetists (does this sound right).
> > Amongst other things it lobbies in Washington for legislation to
> > protect the prosthetic industry.
> >
> > After getting over the size of the whole thing and talking to many of
> > you from the list I believe I received an accurate picture of the big
> > picture.
> >
> > I knew there would be little in the way of amputee consumerism at
> > AOPA, but I was still taken aback by the total and complete lack of
> > it. About the only thing I did notice was that some of the more net
> > savvy companies used the term consumer at least around me - but
> > most still used the term patient.
> >
> > A number of you asked me about the Amputee Union that George Boyer
> > was drolling an about a few weeks back. A few even congratulated me
> > on shutting old George up. I didn't dismiss the idea of an amputee
> > union - I just didn't think George Boyer was the right person to
> > extolling the virtues of such a concept.
> >
> > After arriving back home I have passed along my first impressions
> > back to my SJU list members. I have also received word that one of
> > the companies that I am currently reselling products for, has
> > received complaints from prosthetists due to me selling products
> > directly online. I suppose prosthetists have a right to complain
> > about competition from upstart amputees like myself, especially when
> > they threaten to boycott the manufacturers who sell direct.
> >
> > However, since I do have the names of the prosthetists and companies
> > they work for, do you not think that amputee consumers have the same
> > ability and rights to boycott said prosthetists ? When such a
> > monopoly is more than apparent the atmosphere for the creation of an
> > Amputee Union is ripe. And you have no one to blame but yourselves.
> > When people or insurance is being billed 200-300 per cent over cost
> > for a pair of liners don't you think this creates the right
> > environment for some consumer activation ? And don't whine to me
> > about overheads, business is business he who sells low wins, keeping
> > overheads down is part of operating a succesful business.
> >
> > We are not talking about knees or feet here. We are talking about
> > products that are usually handed over to the amputee. Nothing more
> > technical that an ak or bk sleeve. The orthotic industry sells more
> > technically complicated products over the counter - why can't the
> > prosthetic industry follow the same?
> >
> > The whole premise of amputees buying direct is just the tip of a very
> > large iceberg - let me clarify for those who don't see the
> > connections.
> >
> > Let me tell you more about how an Amputee Union will work. It won't
> > depend on the industry for support and cash, it won't have any
> > mandate to provide support for amputees, it will simply be an
> > industry watchdog, reporting to the right governmental agencies and
> > insurance companies about falling industry standards - sounds scary
> > doesn't it ? They would probably start picketing AOPA events and
> > garnering the media attention that AOPA severely lacks and
> > underestimates. The American public love a David and Goliath
> > wrestling match don't they ?
> >
> > What can you do to stop this ?
> >
> > First of all there is a misconception that an active amputee consumer
> > body somehow translates in to reduced revenue for the industry. These
> > consumers still need prostheses - they still need them to be serviced
> > etc. - that isn't going anywhere.
> >
> > Secondly there are far more unethical prosthetists out there that
> > people will admit to. Now is the time to start weeding them out,
> > because if the industry does not, a well organised, well funded
> > consumer group WILL and it will look a lot uglier. Can you spell
> > WITCH-HUNT ? Increased licencing standards are one way to go with
> > renewals needed every five years.
> >
> > Thirdly, open up at least one day of AOPA to the general public, if
> > only for educational purposes. There is too much mystery, smoke and
> > mirrors and general misunderstanding about prosthetic limbs, you can
> > even charge an entrance fee for extra revenue. Other industries do it
> > - why not this one ?
> >
> > Yes I know I am naive and don't operate a facility - but I can tell
> > you I can spot a trend and if you think there are too many uppity
> > amputees out there now - just keep going the way you are going and
> > you will think this era as the glory days. Five years from now an
> > active consumer group will make your business even more of a
> > challenge.
> >
> > Finally, many of you admire the tenacity of how amputees deal with
> > their amputations. You have seen countless numbers of amputee's come
> > though your doors. Many of you respect (or at least recognise) how we
> > deal with loss and the recovery - even if it brings out the best and
> > worst of us. Imagine if that power of recovery was channeled (even
> > partially) in to a consumer oriented group that has in its sights an
> > industry that no longer seems to care about them. Once organised this
> > would be a force so motivated and powerful that all the dollars you
> > have could not combat it. An amputee jihad maybe. And don't think
> > it can't happen - people with other types of disabilities are already
> > doing it all over the world - we won't have to look far for succesful
> > examples.
> >
> > Why should you let it get to that point ?
> >
> > You have the capabilities to do something about it now.
> >
> > Yes, I learned a lot from AOPA, but I also had a lot of issues
> > confirmed. You might not have an active consumer group right now -
> > from someone who knows amputee issues trust me it is coming.
> >
> > You can choose to fight it as you have been doing or work with it.
> >
> > =================================================
> > Ian Gregson ( <Email Address Redacted> )
>
>
Citation
bronco, “Re: Bashing Amputee Consumerism,” Digital Resource Foundation for Orthotics and Prosthetics, accessed November 5, 2024, https://library.drfop.org/items/show/212743.
