[The Great RJ]

Having been through a similar situation with both my mother and father, what is needed are advanced directives. Based on agreement with family and the patient’s doctors end of life treatment options can be limited to simply palliative care and pain management. What crosses the moral line is actively seeking to end the patient’s life.

[BilLies]

I agree, the fact that the Government publications promote planning and the making plans for death is not the “Death Panels” objection. I am 77 and am preparing for death in the next decade....that is, I am preparing in having MY CLEARLY STATED wishes carried out.
As Sara pointed out, and the Son of OBama is trying to twist and hide, is the fact that the Federal bureaucrats will dictating guidelines for the provision of services. If a HMO screws up they can be sued or taken to court, and that gives them incentives to monitor operations. Ever tried to sue the Federal government?
An analogy to the “Death Panels” are the Rules of Engagement, issued by Federal bureaucrats, that our military is now operating under....where is the appeal, especially for the dead.