Reply #1: calculating the cost of saving a life [View All]

in the above-mentioned article, it mentions a $6 billion cost to save 30,000 lives - or about $200,000 per life saved. is that a good deal?

well consider the costs involved in various medical screening procedures:

Item $/life saved
Cervical cancer screening $50,000
Breast cancer screening $160,000
Lung cancer screening $140,000
Fecal blood test $20,000
Protoscopic exams $60,000
Multiple screening $52,000
Hypertension control $150,000
Kidney dialysis $400,000
Mobile intensive care units in smaller towns $120,000

in this case, perhaps more bang for the buck could be obtained by diverting that $6 billion into medical screening instead (i.e., more than 30,000 lives would be saved). but of course there are other hazards in life, perhaps the $6 billion would be better spent making roads safer . . .

Improvements Lives saved $ per life saved/year
Improved traffic signs 79 31,000
Improved lighting 13 80,000
Upgrade guard rails 119 101,000
Breakaway sign supports 2 125,000
Obstacle removal 8 160,000
Median barrier 28 163,000
Impact attenuators 6 167,000
Median strip 11 181,000
Bridge-guard rail transition 3 260,000
Channels; turn lanes 75 290,000
Flashing lights at railroad 11 295,000
Permanent grooving 6 320,000

in this case, many improvements actually cost more, so it'd probably be as wash - probably about 30,000 lives would still be saved. now, let's go tackle something really dangerous - like nuclear power! just how many lives could we save there if $6 billion were spent decreasing the horrors of nuclear energy? well, according to this site:

http://www.cab.cnea.gov.ar/difusion/Cohen.html

something like 2.4!! (at the cost of some $2,500,000,000 per life saved). thank you greenpeace for having your priorities straight.