Sarah Palin’s Revenge
Death Panels are back, so, just like Joe Wilson’s impolite and impolitic outburst (You Lie!), she was right.
“Death Panels” Return: House Bill Has Potential Physician-Assisted Suicide Loophole
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 30, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) - They’re back. The provisions on advanced-planning directives labeled “death panels” by concerned observers have re-emerged in the final version of the US House of Representatives health-care reform bill. Moreover, the bill also lacks protective language that would prevent reimbursement of physicians counseling assisted suicide as a legitimate “end-of-life” option in states like Washington and Oregon.
Section 240 of H.R. 3962 “Affordable Health Care for America Act” requires insurance companies offering a “qualified health benefits plan” on the health insurance exchange to provide information related to “end-of-life planning” to enrolled individuals.
Let’s step back from the heated “framing” words like Death Panels (no matter how brilliant). Can some well-meaning liberal reading this post please give me a good reason why a) the government has any business “mandating” this, and b) why on earth anyone needs this type of counsel?
Tags: 1990 page house bill, Death Panels, Health Care, Sarah Palin
November 1st, 2009 at 12:57 pm
I would advise you go straight to the bill for your information, or to unbiased analyses. LifeSiteNews has a political agenda.
As the Death with Dignity laws in Oregon and Washington state, no physician can suggest aid in dying; the patient must bring it up (twice actually, with a period of delay in between, then request it in writing, then be determined both terminal and mentally competent, then self-administer the lethal medication (or not) when and as they see fit.)
Regarding end of life care, the government is not mandating end of life discussions with elderly or terminal patients. It is simply directing that these talks be now covered under insurance. And rightly so! Studies show that seniors would prefer to die at home rather in the hospital and that they would prefer least aggressive treatments that may only prolong death, cause more pain and suffering without extending life, and, incidentally cost more.
In other words, the elderly and terminal have been prevented from making their own end of life decisions by the medical industry for decades (because excessive end of life treatments that do nothing to prolong life have generated giant profits for the industry). This provision enables and encourages doctors to give choice back to those who are at the end of their lives. Go seniors!
November 1st, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Ann,
Thanks for commenting. First, I am well aware of LifeSiteNews’ bias, as I’m more than happy to admit that I share it.
2nd, while anyone with a bias toward one side or another could spin the text of the bill, let us not pretend that the goal of these panels is to make information available so that people can arrive at the conclusion that they “have a duty to die” so as to make resources available for “others.”
Just as the pro-life couches their terms in language so as to not appear extreme, those supporting ending ‘heroic’ measures to prolong life must do the same.
I’m reminded of Hubert Humphrey pounding his chest that the 1964 Civil Rights Bill was not a “quota” bill because the word “quota” was “nowhere to be found.”
It turned out to be a quota bill.
I know that there is no section of the health bill called “Death Panels.” That does not mean there won’t eventually be such things, despite the fact that they are called “Counseling.”
Come back often.