Video Starting at 7:22 Dr. Krauthammer says that he is a doctor and and a dr. has incredible authority over a patient especially one who is in pain or elderly. While maybe not death panels, it is the first step in rationing.
Article in NYT tells us how Obama will backdoor unpopular proposals that did not make the cut in the actual policy of Obamacare. Remember Chas. Krauthammer warned us that Kathleen Sebelius will be one powerful person as she writes regs that will put these things back in by stealth tactics. What you say you want when you are healthy does not often translate to what you will say when faced with the dreaded diagnosis. Better to have a Medical Power of attorney authorized to speak for you if you are not able to and make sure he/she knows your wishes and of course someone you trust. Personally my biggest concern is the slippery slope to the lives of the disabled and those whose quality of life is not sanctioned by others.
From the article:
"While the new law does not mention advance care planning, the Obama administration has been able to achieve its policy goal through the regulation-writing process, a strategy that could become more prevalent in the next two years as the president deals with a strengthened Republican opposition in Congress."
"Opponents said the Obama administration was bringing back a procedure that could be used to justify the premature withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment from people with severe illnesses and disabilities."
Earl Blumenauer is a liberal Democrat from OR who strongly supports this measure.
"While we are very happy with the result, we won’t be shouting it from the rooftops because we aren’t out of the woods yet,” Mr. Blumenauer’s office said in an e-mail in early November to people working with him on the issue. “This regulation could be modified or reversed, especially if Republican leaders try to use this small provision to perpetuate the ‘death panel’ myth.” ( Ummm like liberal NYT ccolumnist Paul Krugman said on a Sunday talk show???"
1 comment:
Good to see this is becoming part of the annual vist for the elderly. While many Americans have drawn up living wills through their lawyers, many have not. This encourages the elderly to have their wishes documented and updated while they have the ability to make these decidions for themselves. A living will takes the need to make difficult and often heart-wrenching decision off the hands of their loved ones.
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