Does Ben Carson Have A "Death Panels" Problem?

Stat News ^ | 11/8/2015 | David Nather and Ike Swelitz

[Dawgreg]

This shivers me timbers....I’m long in the tooth and I ain’t ready for anybody to decide if I live or die....except God Himself.

[spintreebob]

If the government is not involved, you are free to go with an insurance company that fits your preferences.

There are 3 health insurance cost blips.

Pregnancy and birth are a minor blip.

Prolonging death is another. Everyone is going to die. The only question is how much is spent to keep the person alive just a little while longer.

Lifestyle costs between those two is the 3rd blip few want to talk about. Alcohol, tobacco, legal and illegal drugs, STDs, and other lifestyle choices are a major health cost.

Back in the 60s the courts stopped an insurance company that wanted to score all lifestyle costs into its underwriting decisions. But certain lifestyles are very costly.

[TerrisFriend]

Thank you for your diligence in getting the word out about Dr. Carson. He appears so caring and many good Christian people have been taken in by him—these quotes portray an altogether different mindset and a disregard for the sanctity of life, and the value of the last days of life...When my mother was dying of cancer after a two year fight I was struck with the realization that it was HER battle. I had no right to ask God, “Why now?” “Let her stay”, or even “Take her quickly”. The walk toward the “valley of the shadow of death” was hers, not mine, and not any physician’s. It was the most difficult yet the most sacred time I’ve ever experienced. Doctor Carson speaking so callously about end of life issues shows his true character, and it’s not good.

[Georgia Girl 2]

” He also noted in September 2005 that the ability to prolong the lives of the elderly has “significant implications in terms of population, and in terms of jobs for the next generation.”

That’s the disturbing statement. My mother is 93 years old and thanks to some surgeries over the past 10 years she is healthy and able to live in her own home, clean her house and drive her car to the grocery, church and out to lunch with friends. She is as sharp as a tack. So would good old Ben have denied her those procedures which are allowing her to live a long and happy life?

[Bob434]

Carson at a Glance

Moral Issues:

Carson agreed with the courts that Kim Davis was wrong for taking a stand on her religious beliefs (A court just found in favor of a muslim truck driver who refused to deliver alcohol based on religious belief- but bakers apparently aren’t allowed to object on religious beliefs, nor are county clerks according to Carson) http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/armstrong-williams-ben-carson-kentucky-clerk

Carson Thinks same sex marriages are just ducky- declaring the ruling the “law of the land.” - http://www.newsmax.com/Headline/carson-huckabee-gay-marriage/2015/06/26/id/652379/

Carson apparently thinks abortions are just ducky too- he said that he “would never advocate it’s illegal for a person to get an abortion.” - http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1992-09-30/news/1992274113_1_abortions-obstetrics-dr

Carson approves of using baby parts from ‘tissue banks’ “To not use the tissue that is in a tissue bank, regardless of where it comes from, would be foolish. Why would anybody not do that?” - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/ben-carson-says-it-is-foolish-not-to-use-already-aborted-babies-tissues-in

Carson apparently refers mothers with fetuses with birth defects to abortion clinics- “he [Carson] believes in quality medical care, No. 1, and secondly, he believes in people making their own decisions based on facts and information.” - http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/ben-carson-abortion-stance-121456.html?hp=t3_r

Carson believes abortions for rape are just ducky- “I would hope that they would very quickly avail themselves of the emergency room, and in the emergency room, they have the ability to administer RU-486 and other possibilities before you have a developing fetus.” - http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/ben-carson-abortion-stance-121456.html?hp=t3_r

Gun Control:

Carson is for banning “Assault Rifles” http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/05/28/dr-ben-carson-on-gun-rights-some-weapons-probably-not-appropriate-like-tanks/

Carson has stated conservatives need to be open to the idea of compromise on gun control measures - http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/05/28/dr-ben-carson-on-gun-rights-some-weapons-probably-not-appropriate-like-tanks/

Carson has stated that local governments should be allowed to ban guns under certain conditions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NM0lldmplM

Carson thinks guns should only be allowed in certain places:

“I had hoped that my NRA speech this year would clarify my position on the second amendment, which I believe is vital to our freedom. As I stated in that speech, Thomas Hobbes, a 17th-century English philosopher when talking about tyranny in Europe, stated that America would never suffer such tyranny because the people were armed. The point that I clumsily was trying to make on the Beck show was that, we should be looking for ways to keep dangerous weapons out of the hands of unstable individuals. It was not a well thought out comment by any stretch of the imagination. All of my writings and in-depth statements clearly state that in no way do I wish to compromise the second amendment. I have subsequently had meaningful discussions with the leadership of the NRA concluded that any law-abiding American should have access to any legal weapon for protection, recreation or whatever other legal purpose they may desire. I am now a lifetime member of the NRA. I realize that some people will never believe that and will not go back and research my writings and statements to satisfy themselves.” - https://www.conservativereview.com/commentary/2015/05/exclusive-ten-questions-with-dr-ben-carson

Energy:

“I don’t particularly like the idea of government subsidies for anything because it interferes with the natural free market,” but then Carson continued, “therefore, I would probably be in favor of taking that $4 billion a year we spend on oil subsidies and using that in new fueling stations.” - http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/kathie-obradovich/caucus/2015/05/05/ben-carson-climate-change-renewable-fuel-standard/26945261/

Personal Gain:

“it is naive to count on the honesty and integrity of people responsible for our markets when they stand to gain so much by manipulating the system to their advantage.” (Ben Carson, America the Beautiful, 78-79) -

Taxes:

Carson has stated that he’s for government wage control- http://www.cnbc.com/id/102658083

More on Carson at the following link: https://www.conservativereview.com/2016-presidential-candidates/candidates/ben-carson

[pepsionice]

I think he is looking at a ‘class’ of people who have a health condition that is deteriorating and we’ve invented great science to prolong this deterioration. It’s like being told you are suddenly (out of the blue) in stage four of cancer. There’s treatment that didn’t exist thirty years ago and they can burn through $50,000 of cost in a matter of six weeks to give you that treatment and buy you two to six months of extra time. At some point, you will ask where the $50,000 came from, and it’s from the big pot of money for Medicare and regular insurance.

Science does a lot of things and there’s a price-tag attached to each plus-up.

As long as people have a quality of life, I don’t have much discussion on this topic. It’s when they don’t have a quality of life and science bumps into the issue....giving us options that don’t have much real value unless you had a quality of life attached.

[conservativejoy]

Thanks for your comments and your personal experience with this issue. Life is precious and should not be treated in the callous manner that Carson’s views depict.

[conservativejoy]

Glad to hear about your mom. Thanks for sharing!

[Georgia Girl 2]

I don’t believe in heroic efforts if there is no hope for recovery either.

But now we have a lot of things that can make people live longer and if you look at what Carson said he said this impacts the labor market. That’s eugenics.

By the way if anybody is still upset at the remarks made by Donald Trump about Carson go on Youtube and watch what Reverend Manning has to say. Trump pales by comparison.

[trisham]

He’s no conservative.

[trisham]

God bless you.

[trisham]

Thanks, Bob434.