Posted on 08/30/2009 5:57:15 PM PDT by ancientart
Examiner: How are you feeling today, Kelly?
Kelly: Fine. Great!
Examiner: Your cholesterol levels are elevated again.
Kelly: Yeah.
Examiner: And your blood pressure's still high.
Kelly: Probably because I rushed. Didn't want to have to pay the 50 bucks. I used to get 50 bucks for signing up. Now I have to pay if I don't sign up.
Examiner: But it's all voluntary. Remember that. OK. Your blood glucose levels are fine, but your waist measurement is borderline.
Kelly: I started walking more.
Examiner: Your risk for stroke and heart disease is high. I see, though, that you've agreed to the exit exams.
Kelly: Yeah, my employers profit if I sign up - so they give me a discount health club membership.
Examiner: Fine, fine. Now, I've examined your chart and, frankly, I see risks ahead. Kelly, have you thought about the end of your life?
Kelly: Not really. I'm only 55!
Examiner: Looking at your lab results, I think you should consider this: You'll likely experience years recovering from bypass surgery; strokes could make you unable to move or speak. You could languish in a wheelchair for years.
Kelly: I did stop smoking.
Examiner: Yes. That was good. But you have cancer in your family history. You could see repeated surgeries, chemo treatments, reduced immune function, sensitivity to diseases.
Kelly: Yet I could live to a ripe old age.
Examiner: I want you to think for a moment of what it might be like after suffering a stroke. You can't move the right side of your body. Your speech is slurred. You need help feeding yourself, and you can't drive. What would life be like?
Kelly: Hard.
Examiner: Yes. Not just hard for you, but hard for your family, your friends. Think of all the people you'd inconvenience.
Kelly: I took care of my mother and made her last years comfortable.
Examiner: But you wouldn't wish those hard years on those you love, would you?
Kelly: (silence)
Examiner: I have here a form. It's a simple form. All it says is that if you suffer from a debilitating illness, the doctors take measures so you don't spend much time in pain.
Kelly: That sounds OK. How, exactly, will that work?
Examiner: Well, if you get really sick, instead of costly and agonizing treatments, we just allow - that is, you, allow - extraordinary measures to be withheld. Totally voluntary.
Kelly: And extraordinary measures means -
Examiner: Expensive surgeries, procedures, feeding tubes, respirators, hydration, costly drugs, tubes - those kinds of things. All voluntary.
Kelly: Voluntary now? Or voluntary later?
Examiner: Oh, now, of course. You can either sign this form or not sign it. Totally voluntary.
Kelly: If I sign it now, can I change my mind later?
Examiner: (smiling) Let's see how to put this. Let's say you're in an accident. You've suffered a concussion, and many bodily functions are gone. You've previously signed the form. But something goes haywire with your mind and you keep calling out to nurses that you want to live. You don't really want to live. The concussion has put you in a state of - confusion. This form eliminates the hassle and all the agony of that situation. We will see to your earlier, voluntary wishes. It's that simple.
Kelly: Who decides what's a debilitating illness?
Examiner: We have professionals who can weigh costs and benefits. You don't ever need to worry. We do all the deciding for you.
Kelly: Sounds easy.
Examiner: Oh, it's easy. If you sign, you get an extra $50 credit.
Kelly: Hey! What can I lose?
Bet on it!
The death culture owns the MSM.
I’ve seen a lot of stupid things said in the health care debate, but this ranks up there with the stupidest.
After perusing your posting history, I’ve come to the conclusion you’ve either chosen your name poorly or under false pretenses.
In short, a troll
Just wait until this is not voluntary! The death panels will make sure of that.
Get a patient who is suffering a touch of senility, and see how funny the conversation sounds!
Your lack of imagination is stunning. There is nothing stupid about the scenario, nor even implausible. This is a logical extension of our current technology coupled with the unintended consequences of obamacare.
Read a book or something!
This post is exactly what could happen.
This reads like a VA publication.
You are correct.
He got the zot here: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2328524/posts - Comment #17 Removed by Moderator
Kelly: If I do sign it and I become a burden on society, is there anything I can do to keep someone from administering a lethal dose of drugs just to get rid of me?
Examiner: Well, you can murder someone and get on death row.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.