"Death Panels" are back

[finnbow]

Thankfully. By issuing a regulation, the Obama administration is bringing back the idea of compensation for end of life planning with a physician.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/us...h.html?_r=1&hp

Let's see what the knucklehead from Wasilla has to say about this.

[BlueStreak]

"She appears to be quite happy in Alaska, and I think she needs to stay there."---Former First Lady, Barbara Bush.

The only thing dumber than a Sarah Palin supporter is Sarah Palin herself. They admire her for her stunning lack of intelligence.

Dave

[BlueStreak]

Oh and on the OP, GOOD! And I think we need to revisit the "Public Option" as well.

Dave

[Charles]

I've never understood why anyone needs the help of a doctor to deal with end of life issues...unless they're so feeble that they can't tie a plastic bag on their head.

Chas

[BlueStreak]

Ever gone to an "End of Life" meeting with the family and an elderly loved one?
It's no fun. Especially when the loved one in question doesn't understand that
the family and the physicians are just as helpless as they are in that situation.
The first thing my mother did was say, "No feeding tubes, no artificial life support."
Then began to accuse us of "leaving me to die like a bunch of damn baboons". Insulted the doctor, insulted my Dad, insulted us, insulted pretty much everyone she encountered on her way back to her room. Two years later the Alzheimers finally took her.

I still miss that tough old bird.

Dave

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

Ever gone to an "End of Life" meeting with the family and an elderly loved one?
It's no fun. Especially when the loved one in question doesn't understand that
the family and the physicians are just as helpless as they are in that situation.
The first thing my mother did was say, "No feeding tubes, no artificial life support."
Then began to accuse us of "leaving me to die like a bunch of damn baboons". Insulted the doctor, insulted my Dad, insulted us, insulted pretty much everyone she encountered on her way back to her room. Two years later the Alzheimers finally took her.

I still miss that tough old bird.

Dave

My mother (who also died from Alzheimer's) spared us a lot of grief by preparing a living will and appointing a durable power of attorney. I was the appointee, but fortunately, my brothers and I were close enough to cooperate in the decision-making process (and became closer during Mom's five years in the Kansas City area.) End of life planning makes the last years less frightening, and allows the family to come to grips with reality. My brothers live on both coasts, in a foreign country (Texas), and in the Midwest. We are separated by 17 years, and run the entire length of the (American) political spectrum. Bringing all of us closer together was Mom's lasting gift to us. She was on Hospice for her last year, which created additional physical comfort for her, and emotional comfort for us. I believe it would be cruel to not allow doctors and patients plan for end of life issues, and for patients and families to not have the option to turn medical care over to a hospice organization.


Regards,

D-Ray

[Charles]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

Ever gone to an "End of Life" meeting with the family and an elderly loved one?
It's no fun. Especially when the loved one in question doesn't understand that
the family and the physicians are just as helpless as they are in that situation.
The first thing my mother did was say, "No feeding tubes, no artificial life support."
Then began to accuse us of "leaving me to die like a bunch of damn baboons". Insulted the doctor, insulted my Dad, insulted us, insulted pretty much everyone she encountered on her way back to her room. Two years later the Alzheimers finally took her.

I still miss that tough old bird.

Dave

My Dad specifically said that if he reached the point where he could no longer feed himself to let him die.

Well, he hasn't been able to feed himself for years. If you put food in his mouth he will eat it, but he hasn't known anyone or anything for several years. On occasion he will administer a cussing to someone when they try to put him in a G-chair, but that's as close to reality as he ever gets.

I suppose it's pretty cold hearted to let someone just sit in a chair and starve to death, but somehow I don't think his wishes are being honored.

If he ever stops eating the instructions are not to go to the tubes, but seriously, what's the difference?

Chas

[BlueStreak]

I dunno, Chas. That's a tough one to answer. If it were me answering for myself, I would say there is no difference. 'Cept, maybe if I can swallow on my own, it's (a little) better than a tube stuck down my throat.

Dave

[CarlV]

Originally Posted by finnbow

In the September poll, 30 percent of Americans 65 and older said the new health care law allowed a government panel to make decisions about end-of-life care for people on Medicare. The law has no such provision.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/26/us...h.html?_r=1&hp

You don't have to be 65, just a working stiff in Arizona with a family to support. Ol' McCain has served a lot of waffles to support this governor who signed their death panel budget too.
I wonder if they will really save that 250,000 dollar Medicare pricetag by the time the tab for the SSI death benefits are fully paid out for his kids.
http://www.ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=1359593

[merrylander]

Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars? That's pure bloody thievery. The BMT process was developed at the University of Toronto and is free under Single Payer.