Obama Returns to End-of-Life Plan That Caused Stir (Medicare Death panels start Jan. 1)

NY Times ^ | 12/25/10 | ROBERT PEAR

[JSteff]

Well, it turns out that the liberals are going to set up death panels through regulation rather than explicitly in legislation.

The dems have it down, they realize that it is not the elected government that matters, it is the admin pawns who blindly follow the rules. This is has always been a part of the plan of O and the dems to take our country. O's friends said years ago that this is the way to do it.

And so now they are. The folks in government we pay huge salaries to, and health care beni's for, and retirement to are doing as O and company wrote about for years. Why does anyone think his government included all those unelected czars and their departments for?? Because once all those government entities are in place the vote does not matter.

The workers in place just follow the rules and admin laws (also not voted on) and completely legal until challenged and ruled against by a judge!!! Our elected officials have very little control against the machine in place already! So the dem plans are working.

Please tell me I am wrong. Oh and read my tag line!

[RobbyS]

And suppose you —or your father—were to take the opposite position? After all, death is a fearful thing. A government panel should decide? That means you would have to leave the country to find medical treatment.

[RobbyS]

They are the reason why money has come to dominate health care. My family doctor predicted fifty years ago —five years before Medicare passed— what has happened since Medicare was passed.

[Innovative]

"The rule was issued by Dr. Donald M. Berwick, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and a longtime advocate for better end-of-life care.

"Using unwanted procedures in terminal illness is a form of assault," Dr. Berwick has said. "In economic terms, it is waste. Several techniques, including advance directives and involvement of patients and families in decision-making, have been shown to reduce inappropriate care at the end of life, leading to both lower cost and more humane care."

TRANSLATION: Kill the old people and those with serious illness to save money, their life is worthless.

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

Well written. You gave me chills.

That’s where I see this headed, too. They will start with something that seems like a good idea — talking with elderly patients about whether or not they want a DNR order, palliative care or what — and in a few years, it will become your moral *duty* to “consider stepping aside” for the good of future generations. Then if you refuse a standing DNR, or want to have difficult diseases treated anyway after a certain age (which they will pick, of course), you’ll be a moral leper.

Gah. Slippery slope, indeed.

[HiTech RedNeck]

If a patient (like your father) wishes of his own free will to pass up a life extending operation, that is one thing. To be pressured by bureaucrats into doing this is quite another thing.

[SatinDoll]

You have obviously never dealt with Alzheimers.

The surgery would not lengthen his life, but the affects of the anesthesia would definitely make it a living Hell mentally afterwards.

[dragonblustar]

Ping

[Marine_Uncle]

Bitt and Ernest. Merry Christmas. And a healthy and safe content new year.
The socialist and his goon squads continue to show themselves for what they are. And not only them but the witch from the west and the con man from Nevada and their large crowd.
Perhaps the only good news is they are slowly putting their cards on the table so that all Americans can see.
Will all the wailing black Americans, Mexicans, others from south of the border, all the masses of stupid dumb down white folk, Europeans that came here to seek a better life then what they had in Europe and Russia, Asians, others who are mostly clueless as to what has been going on in this country for so long between the evil forces of socialistic/Communistic organizations to bring down our form of government and our capitalistic economy, start to recognize that hey.... these people want to pull the tubes on our moms and dads.
The question continues to beg attention.

[nutmeg]

bookmark

[spokeshave]

0bambi demonstrating the official Obamacare "end of life" look

[Gene Eric]

A dichotomous depiction of self and selfless.

[SatinDoll]

He is incompetent, and was declared such 10 months ago. He had the foresight to write up a living will ten years ago, specifying DNR (do not resuscitate) and that he does not want any extraordinary life extending measures taken to keep him alive.

We are talking Alzheimers disease here, folks; he no longer has responsibility for his own decisions. I make the determinations for his medical care.

My primary concern is that he not be frightened or stressed.

Alzheimers is terminal. He could live for years, or he could be dead in a couple months. What matters is that he not suffer or be uncomfortable, as that is a stressor that can worsen his Alzheimers and shorten his life.

This does not mean I want his life to end sooner than necessary. It is just that weighing the effects of medical care against the benefits of that care has to be determined.

He has had two types of surgeries, very minor; one type for double hernias and the second type two surgeries for cataracts requiring replacement of corneas. All surgeries were successful, one day only events, and without any noticeable stressful impact on his frame of mind.

[the invisib1e hand]

Why is this being acknowledged by Them?

[the invisib1e hand]

Under the new policy, outlined in a Medicare regulation, the government will pay doctors who advise patients on options for end-of-life care, which may include advance directives to forgo aggressive life-sustaining treatment

and of course Econ 101teaches you to subsidize what you want to encourage, tax what you want to discourage.

welcome to the Culture of Death come home to roost, FRiends and neighbors. The state has put a price on your head.

Geezus H. Christ.

[the invisib1e hand]

What a repulsive death-mask. The other guy doesn’t seem too thrilled.

[ducdriver]

I’m wondering if “extraordinary life-extending measures” is defined anywhere in his directive.

[xrmusn]

What a repulsive death-mask. The other guy doesn’t seem too thrilled.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
The ‘other guy’ is SSGT Giunta.

OB shouldn’t be allowed to ‘touch’ such a man or even be in the same room.

OB’s usual smirk is more pronounced than usual.

[SatinDoll]

He said he doesn’t want to be on machines that keep him alive artificially when he would otherwise be dead.

This is difficult for me as I’m a Roman Catholic, but these are his wishes and not mine.

[Finalapproach29er]

These bastards are so totally dishonest.

Palin should nail these bastards immediately.

Sarah was right!