Obama Administration: Depressed and Disabled Veterans Should Consider Foregoing Medical Care

IsraPundit ^ | 8/19/09 | Bill Levinson

[Winged Hussar]

Depression, disability, and "being a financial burden" could constitute "Lebensunwerte Leben" (Life Unworthy of Life) in U.S. Government end of life planning document

"The Death Book for Veterans: Ex-soldiers don't need to be told they're a burden to society" by Jim Towey in today's (August 18) Wall Street Journal says,

Last year, bureaucrats at the VA's National Center for Ethics in Health Care advocated a 52-page end-of-life planning document, "Your Life, Your Choices." It was first published in 1997 and later promoted as the VA's preferred living will throughout its vast network of hospitals and nursing homes. After the Bush White House took a look at how this document was treating complex health and moral issues, the VA suspended its use. Unfortunately, under President Obama, the VA has now resuscitated "Your Life, Your Choices."

We downloaded this document directly from the Veterans Administration, and the content suggests that both family finances and depression--a non-terminal illness--could constitute Lebensunwerte Leben, or "life unworthy of life." Smoke is generally indicative of fire and, although HR 3200 says nothing about mandatory end of life planning, euthanasia, or anything else similar to Germany's Aktion T4 program--the euthanasia program that served as a precedent for the Holocaust--we have shown (http://www.israpundit.com/2008/?p=16320) that there is indeed fire to go with the smoke. "Your Life, Your Choices" is simply more evidence, and it even suggests that war veterans with depression consider themselves a burden on the society that sent them to war.

[Grampa Dave]

See Michelle, I told you that we had plenty of space to put all of the old and worthless Americans and worthless depressed and disabled veterans in and get them out of the way. We could put about 50 million of them in that big hole. Then, we can use the estate taxes from them to fund the 40 million illegals needing healthcare.

[mware]

Check out letter Q & R from post 320.

Sounds like they are counseling people to take themselves out even without terminal illnesses.

[Mrs. Don-o]

I honestly had no idea it was this explicit, this insidious, penetrating, and persuasive, already. And I daresay I'm one of the more vigilant citizens on this type of issue.

This is most terribly distressing.

And reading it in conjunction with what Bishop Clement von Galen wrote about the German "End-of-Life" program in 1941 -- we certainly can't claim we didn't see it coming.

May the Lord show us what we must do, and quickly.

[Gilbo_3]

When the government can steer vulnerable individuals to conclude for themselves that life is not worth living, who needs a death panel?”

Good lord...this is PURE EVIL!!

and Im bettin theres some hidden 'legaleze' in porkulus or the deathstar bills [or in ammendments waitin in the wings] to attach your med cost to yer family members SSN as leverage to take the check out pill...

[JoeFromSidney]

You obviously have never had to sit with a lvoed one and write and advanced health care directive.

Never write an "advanced care directive." You really don't know how you'll feel when push comes to shove. Instead, fill out a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, giving power to make health care decisions to someone you trust to look out for your welfare. They can make decisions for you, instead of you being bullied into agreeing to have the plug pulled, when you're weak and confused.

I've been there. When my first wife was dieing, they couldn't wait. They urged me to let them pull the plug on her. In her weakness, she might have let herself be bullied into it. I didn't put up with the bullying. She died peacefully when God was ready to call her.

[penelopesire]

Yep...I read it all the other day. They are ‘encouraging’ vulnerable people to opt for no care. There is no other way a compassionate and sane person could interpret this whole thing.

[the long march]

Bwahahahahahahaaa

[the long march]

Have you stopped beating your wife?

[the long march]

Absolutely 100% correct. The folks I know who work for the VA ( and particularly with the home bound and elderly -— and yes those can be different sets) are some of the finest docs and nurses I have ever known. They experience a frustration level that most of us would not tolerate as they battle the bureaucracy to get the care that the vet NEEDS and DESERVES.

Thank you for your thoughtful post

[the long march]

In California at least it is in the patients best interest to have both. Your state may have a different set of laws.

[SC DOC]

I can’t speak for all the VA hospitals, but the one in my community has the most sub-standard Oncology program that I have seen in a long time. Because of budgetary restrictions, newer, more effective chemotherapy drugs are not even on the formulary, and treatments are comparable to the restrictions we see in the National Health Service in England. Any veteran who has insurance or Medicare would be far better off going to a civilian health facility.

[Republic]

In the end of it all, your post probably hurts my heart most.

There are no more precious, important patients than those who gave all for you and me and the rest of this great nation.

Of ALL OF US, our veterans should be so SPOILED when it comes to getting the BEST OF THE BEST that our veterans hospitals, imo, should rival the Cleveland Clinic or the Mayo Clinic or Johns Hopkins for the absolute most up to date, revolutionary medicine and technology/research facilities , combined with the absolute highest in medical care. ( And even total 24/7 care if needed, home or inhouse somewhere.) I would even be in favor of disallowing income tax leveling upon ANY VETERAN.

I mean it.

These are the people I want my tax dollars to support. Because I never went through the training, because I never suffered the heat of Kuwait, or Iraq or Afghanistan, or the humidity and heat of Vietnam or Korea, or the slaughter on the Normandy Beaches, or the cold of the European front, because I have NEVER REALLY SACRIFICED anything like our veterans have and continue to do, I would NEVER object to paying more for the best of the best medical care for our veterans.

What Rush just said about the death panel, so to speak, that uhbama has reenacted on our veterans (President Bush cancelled it, uhbama has had it reinstated) makes me sick.

If I were President, after national security matters were in hand, the first thing I would do would be to drop all of the money going to ACORN via community action networks and put all of it in a fund to upgrade and provide for every single veterans' hospital in our nation.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thanks!!!!

And for the trolls? Bring. It. On.

[Brad’s Gramma]

bfl

[penelopesire]

Hannity and Rush have also brought this evil VA directive up on their shows. If Chris Wallace actually shows the questionaire on his show Sunday, you can expect Obama’s numbers to plummet even further. I hope every American reads those awful questions!

[Gondring]

I am not at all in favor of it! I am in favor of fighting it with vigor and honesty, not providing opponents the opportunity to discredit patriots by pointing out falsehoods or exaggerations!

[driftdiver]

The bill requires doctors to provide it. Since the patient won’t have a choice on their doctor it requires them to receive it.

[Gondring]

WHERE does it say that the doctor must provide this? I’m calling you on that claim.

[driftdiver]

“WHERE does it say that the doctor must provide this? I’m calling you on that claim.”

Thats nice, I’ve read it in numerous places. I’ve listened to numerous discussions with experts who says its mandatory. I’m satisfied its the truth. Call all you want, you say you don’t support this bill but your posts speak differently.

[Gondring]

Well, there ain't many better examples of ipse-dixitism than what you just put forth, I'll say that!