Americans are treated, and overtreated, to death (shut up and die, already)

Yahoo/AP ^ | 06/28/2010 | MARILYNN MARCHIONE

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The doctors finally let Rosaria Vandenberg go home. For the first time in months, she was able to touch her 2-year-old daughter who had been afraid of the tubes and machines in the hospital. The little girl climbed up onto her mother's bed, surrounded by family photos, toys and the comfort of home. They shared one last tender moment together before Vandenberg slipped back into unconsciousness.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

You don't need no steenking medical care.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Interesting how in the period preceding the health care debate, we were told over and over again that millions of Americans didn’t receive adequate health care.

Now we’re being told that we receive too much. I guess this is to prepare us for the inevitable rationing.

[sten]

exactly.

they reduced the age when mammograms and cervical exams should be given... in order to reduce costs the government would have to pay.

death panels have already been formed...

[taxcontrol]

It also helps with the social security situation. If you kill them off earlier, you don’t have to pay out SS.

[thethirddegree]

I am thankful that my life and parting is not determined by Obamacare, but by the Living God Who created me.

[OrangeHoof]

Personally, I think the fear of malpractice suits cause doctors to overtest and overmedicate "just to be safe" and we could often do with less. However, that's a far cry from wanting the government to control the process.

IMO, tort reform would have helped to bring health care costs in line without massive federal interference.

[Siena Dreaming]

Truth is that both under-servicing and over-servicing are happening.

Often people are given too much care; i.e. too many people running immediately to the doctor for a runny nose because their employer pays for the care, so why not?

But just as often people don't receive personalized care for their real needs.

This is because health care is NOT consumer-driven. When the consumer is in the driver's seat doctors and hospitals provide efficient service, not over-servicing and/or under-servicing. But our health care has been controlled by employers and Gov't for years.

[rightwingintelligentsia]

Some of the over-servicing you describe takes place at the lower end of the scale.

Low income people rush to the emergency room for routine complaints because they know can’t be turned away, and that the gov’t will pay.

[nagdt]

When you’re diagnosed with an incurable cancer - you really need to step back and say
A: Doc, if I do some treatments - how much time am I buying?
B: Of that time, will I be able to enjoy the days I have left?

I watched my brother, in Stage 4 cancer@diagnosis, live 6 months. He had 2 procedures and several chemo treatments...
About midway through the 6 months, he rode his Harley across country with his old friends (though that was tough on him). When he came back he did a few more bucket list things. Then it really took hold and they admitted him. He sat in the hospital for a few days and all they were doing was giving him Oxygen. I went down there and asked the Doctor what was going on. He said he maybe had a few days left. I had him discharged, got some oxygen tanks and morphine from the hospital pharmacy and drove him to San Antonio so he could say goodbye to his family and kids. He was only in hospice for 2 days.
My mom, on the other hand - diagnosed with incurable brain cancer at 85 years old - opted to jump right into hospice, because she was only given 3 to 4 months to live. She did receive some radiation to keep her from having painful seizures...but the rest was just comfort care. I had the honor of being with her, at her home for the last two months of her life. We had laughs, meals, walks and many of her friends visited frequently. The hospice folks were awesome, very spiritual and helped my mom and the whole family cope with a very difficult situation.

Sometimes, treatment will help prolong a bit - but if I were diagnosed with something incurable - I’d definitely ask the hard questions about quality of life for my remaining days.

[RoadTest]

Considering the source (Yahoo/AP) changes the meaning and significance of an article.

In this case it just tells me this article speaks for the guy who said “Don’t waste expensive medical care on a old person. Just make him comfortable and let him die.”.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

In this case it just tells me this article speaks for the guy who said “Don’t waste expensive medical care on a old person. Just make him comfortable and let him die.”.

Shut up and die already.

;^]

[Marty62]

My Mom who died at 90 peacefully in her sleep in HER Bed.

Refused to go to Docs. She was a nurse all her life.
I took care of her for 15 years, yes I’m very proud that she had a great life. (Or the best I could give her)

I am dealing with the thought of going into the hospital.
I had an MRI last MON, found out I have a hematoma next to my left ear.(f-ing ringing is driving nuts). I had a problem yesterday and called my HMO. they told me to go to the ER. I decided to stay home. Who knows what is going to happen. I am going to have another MRI in a month, I’m gauging it by the ringing. If it stops I will be ok. But trust me, if I can stay out of the hospital I will.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

But trust me, if I can stay out of the hospital I will.

And that should be your decision, not some panel of affirmative-actioned bureaucrats.

[wally_bert]

I was just recently hospitalized for a couple days to an emergency. Nothing super serious and no surgery for which I am grateful for and am on the road to recovery.

When I was talking to the doctor about getting discharged, he told me that I was going to be on some pricey pills for a while. No surprise there. While we were talking, he mentioned there was some kind of cancer medication (pancreatic?) that cost like $300,000 a pop and might buy someone 2 or three months.

[goldfinch]

I have a little experience in this area. A lot more than I would choose to have. So I have some questions this article doesn't answer.

Notice in the touching first example, the pharmacist who endured 2 rounds of chemotherapy. They are quoting her sister, not her husband, about the decisions made in her treatment. Why is that? The sister says they might have decided to decline treatment...NOT the patient OR her husband. The sister has no say in this matter. The decisions were made by the patient, a well-educated woman with a medical background, and her husband after consulting with her doctors. The doctors did not force the treatment on her. Is the sister speaking out here because she disagrees with the decisions the sibling made?

In my experience, almost all cancer patients want to fight the cancer aggressively and they want whatever treatment gives them the best hope of recovery. Only after there is no hope of winning the battle do patients decide to discontinue treatment. I have never known a doctor to force a patient to continue treatment against a patient’s wishes. That may happen, but it is a very rare thing.

I agree with those who think this article is meant to support the progressives in their push to limit treatment for the elderly. Thirty years ago, Colorado governor, Dick Lamm, gave a speech stating the elderly had a ‘Duty to Die’. It is a position deeply held by progressives, and one the MSM will do its level best to push...all in the name of ‘compassion’, of course...

[Mr Fuji]

Thank you for sharing your stories. The questions you are willing to ask are the right questions.

Every time a healthcare story pops up Freepers scream “death panels”. I didn’t get that from this particular story. A lot of folks don’t want to be burdens on their families for very little gain or negative results on their health and life. I think many terminally ill folks are not given the facts about their situation and are just told to take this drug/treatment and to keep chugging along without giving folks the information they need to make a true informed decision. I don’t want the opposite to happen either where the plug is pulled on someone who doesn’t want it pulled or refuses to give up hope.

It’s one thing when a “death panel” decides your fate for death by offering no treatment, another thing when the healthcare system keeps you around for whatever reason ($$$) and another when you decide your treatment based on the right information.

[katana]

Hospice care is a genuine blessing.

Knowing that something someday will eventually get me, the image of spending my last days or moments tied down to machines or in a drugged coma has never had much appeal. BUT that life belongs to me and my friends and family, NOT to some government drone.

Funny how it's Godless Liberals who think that if they eat the right stuff, exercise compulsively, and go in for regular plastic surgical tune-ups they will live forever, but at the same time have no compunction about killing off the rest of us to save the "environment". They are truly psychotic.

[GailA]

NAZI CARE DELUXE is all obamacare is. Share with all you know.

Dems write off seniors
http://frontpagemag.com/2010/06/17/elderly-and-expendable/

NO DOC FIX FOR MEDICARE
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jun/18/senate-fails-spare-doctors-medicare-cuts/

Seniors Must Scrutinize Medicare Mailer
IBD Editorials ^ | June 8, 2010 | NEWT GINGRICH AND NANCY DESMOND

http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/536677/201006081815/Seniors-Must-Scrutinize-Medicare-Mailer.aspx

“Your guaranteed Medicare benefits won’t change — whether you get them through Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan.”

Report: Bill would reduce senior care Medicare cuts approved by House may affect access to providers
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/14/AR2009111402597.html

Health Reform’s Hidden Victims Young people and seniors would pay a high price for ObamaCare.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203517304574306303720472842.html

Mayo clinic stops taking Medicare patients
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=517004

Seniors’ coverage options dwindle as Medicare Advantage programs close shop
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-advantage_22bus.ART.State.Edition1.3c912a9.html

Weighing Medical Costs of End-of-Life Care
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/23/health/23ucla.html?_r=1&ref=business&pagewanted=all

Survey in New England Journal of Medicine Says 46% of US Doctors Will Quit If Obamacare Passes

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2798380/shocking_survey_in_new_england_journal.html?cat=75

Slashing Medicare to pay for healthcare reform an ugly shell game
Dr. Stuart M. Shapiro,
July 27, 2009

http://www.mcknights.com/slashing-medicare-to-pay-for-healthcare-reform-an-ugly-shell-game/article/140656/

Obamacare Impact on Seniors

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2010/05/Obamacare-Impact-on-Seniors

March 28, 2010 Health law’s heavy impact Paul Guppy
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/mar/28/health-laws-heavy-impact/

The Senate Health Bill: Ordinary Americans Have Been Warned

http://blog.heritage.org/2010/03/17/the-senate-health-bill-ordinary-americans-have-been-warned/

Obama Names Rationing Czar to Run Medicare
by Terence P. Jeffrey
05/26/2010

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=37186
Under Obamacare, IRS Has Power to Penalize Americans Who Refuse to Buy Required Insurance
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2807832/under_obamacare_irs_has_power_to_penalize.html?cat=75
obamacare taxes on working families
http://www.atr.org/obamacares-taxes-working-families-a4745

Electronic Records to costly says doctors

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/08/health/policy/08health.html?fta=y

Employer health insurance plans likely to be altered after all

http://www.telegram.com/article/20100612/NEWS/6120334/1116

[GailA]

Last article like this I read said the men were getting to MANY PSA test.

[Marty62]

That was my point.My HMO said go, I decided against it. It was my choice.