[KarlInOhio]

How long will it be before assisted "suicide" is the only permitted medical treatment? Well, of course for little people, not the "more equal" ones like Ted Kennedy.

[the invisib1e hand]

Lung cancer patient, Barbara Wagner, was recently notified that her oncologist-prescribed medication that would slow the growth of cancer would not be covered by the Oregon Health Plan; the plan, however, she was informed, would cover doctor-assisted suicide should she wish to kill herself

So, we've finally arrived, and not in Kansas, Toto.

In the very big picture, perhaps the only thing that can save us from ourselves...is a very bitter medicine that we won't want to take...

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Shaffer then addressed a priority list that had been developed to ration health care.

All you need to nkow about "free" healthcare.

[Between the Lines]

Genentech is the pharmaceutical company which is going to supply this woman with the drug Tarceva for free.

[stuartcr]

I’m sure it costs way more to treat a cancer patient. I imagine with so many people complaining about medical costs, that this factored in greatly in their decision. I’m not sure what should be done...keep people alive and spread the costs out to everyone, or try and control costs?

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

Hillarycare.
Obamabcare.

It's all the same as Kevorkian care. It's cheaper and easier to kill than it is to preserve life.

God have mercy on this country.

[verity]

"A representative from the company that manufactures the treatment called the cancer patient to say they would give her the medication for free. "

Great PR.

[PGalt]

life

[G Larry]

Oregon endorses the “Master Race” policy!

“We can’t cover everything for everyone,” he said. “We try to come up with polices that provide the most good for the most people.” Shaffer then addressed a priority list that had been developed to ration health care. “There’s some desire on the part of the framers of this list to not cover treatments that are futile,” he said, “or where the potential benefit to the patient is minimal in relation to the expense of providing the care.”

[CharlesWayneCT]

"There's some desire on the part of the framers of this list to not cover treatments that are futile," he said, "or where the potential benefit to the patient is minimal in relation to the expense of providing the care."

I would think that treatment that results in death is "futile", or at least "not beneficial to the patient" who wants to actually live.

At least she still has a choice -- they aren't forcing her to take the death pills, she can still just suffer a slow, painful, agonizing death instead.

[Brilliant]

Socialized medicine at its finest.

[WhatAgain?]

My health policy will pay 90K for a quad bypass, but not $28. a month for EDTA to keep my arteries clear. Pretty stupid isn’t it.

[gridlock]

Once the state becomes responsible for all health care expenses, assisted suicide will stop being an option and start being a duty.

[VRWCmember]

Hey, if we give them the chance Obama and hillary will take this kind of plan nationwide.

[Between the Lines]

Perhaps this might be of interest to your ping list.

[Eroteme]

From Dr. Schaffer, administrator of Oregon's Health Plan:
"We try to come up with polices that provide the most good for the most people."

Evidently, Dr. Schaffer and the rest of the demigods in Oregon have determined that offing this woman provides the most "good" for the most people. Nice.

This is not about declining to pay for treatment on the basis of it being an inordinate drain on resources that would otherwise be available to help others with better prognoses--an unpleasant and sad reality that, while untenable, is at least understandable. But that's not what this is. By agreeing to cover suicide, they have flatly established state priorities on what is "good for the most people." Chilling.

Now that Genentech has agreed to provide the medication, maybe this woman will be able to attend Dr. Schaffer's funeral.

[wagglebee]

Moral Absolutes Ping!

Freepmail wagglebee to subscribe or unsubscribe from the moral absolutes ping list.

FreeRepublic moral absolutes keyword search
[ Add keyword moral absolutes to flag FR articles to this ping list ]

[socialismisinsidious]

Socialized Medicine aka Universal Health Care PING LIST

FReepmail me if you want to be added to or removed from this ping list.

[ER_in_OC,CA]

self ping

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

More profit than progress in cancer research