'Death Panel' Lunacy Takes Dying With Dignity Off the Table

The truly thoughtful commentators on both sides of this debate realize that Americans are not letting Y'obama, Pelosi, Reid and their crew, railroad yet another bill through Congress without some real debate.

How can any sincere person vote for a bill nobody has read and nobody understands? Y'obama got into bed with Big Pharma and Big Torte Lawyers, guaranteeing their cut of the pie. This is health reform?

Y'obama's formula for holding down health costs is to hold down reimbursements. That's really intelligent!

We see how government acts once it gets its foot in the door. Instead of reform, we get more and more rules to favor one side or another. This bill will start a process that Y'obama will use to implement single-payer insurance. That is something we don't need.

JimmyDaGeek of MD 10:00AM August 25, 2009

If there are so many Americans in an uproar over Health Reform or Universal coverage, then I propose changes that will help Providers stay solvent so they can continue to treat those that are able to pay.

Insurances have implemented a high co-pay to act as a deterrent to consumers that use the ER, for inpatient stays there are high patient liabilities (co-ins) multiple stays can or treatments can cause financial ruin, which is why we need reform. Now the old have Medicare and the poor have Medicaid, but the working class has the aforementioned…high liabilities. Excuse me even the elderly need secondary coverage to cover coinsurance and deductibles.

I propose, as an alternative to Health Reform. Providers be allowed to deny service to any patient that has an open balance at any hospital in order to protect against insolvency for the benefit of the community. Like any other purchase, payment history& ability to pay should be considered/. Furthermore, providers should have the right to sue consumers that are delinquent. If the American people don’t want health reform, then we all should bear the burden responsibly.

The reality is that without any type of reform, the average Provider related treatment, will exceed the actual tax. I am hard pressed to see how this bill is a partisan issue.

As far as “death panels” and waiting periods, you already have that. People with limited coverage ARE excluded from all possible treatments, pre-certification is required. Anyone in the field already knows that you can’t hide behind word games. I’ve written this before and I’ll I write it again. If the Republican party is about limited government, then we can’t have the type of government we need for a NATION STATE. The only thing they need to be in charge of, as presently constituted is Block Captain. When is the last time they addressed an issue, other than suggest medical coverage via the stock market…or to just say NO. Clearly they don’t comprehend that this is more than just a game. The truth is that something responsible must be done and mentally they are ill-equipped to participate. They have their own set of issues to deal with, they can’t possibly deal with mine or yours. At the rate their going, they’ll actually be complaining on talk shows that it’s President Obama’s fault they aren’t in power and someone needs to do something about it!!!! That’s how ridiculous they’ve become.

Anyone that thinks Healthcare reform isn’t need go take your one insurance and spend the night in a hospital to see what happens.

OHARVEY of PA 9:26PM August 22, 2009

Totally agree with our having the clear choice on end of life issues. I think it is a total waste of money to have counseling - that's something a doctor should be able to do in the treatment process. Your comment "The flap over Section 1233 is an illustrative example of the way that Obama's foes are resisting healthcare reform—by picking little segments of a complicated bill and distorting (or concocting) their effects" is a distraction from legitimate questions about the sum total or body of the bill. Few members of Congress have even read it.

The question of illegals "not having access to health care in the US" is another red herring. The Democrats took out the Republican submission that everyone must have an I.D. as proof of citizenship, and states that if one member of the illegal household is a citizen (the anchor baby) then all members of the household/family are eligible. Pelosi stated unequivocably that we have the moral obligation to treat illegals. So the point is - there is massive distortion and BS on both sides. The sorry excuse we have for a WH spokesman has done very poorly in explaining this behemoth and the press, like Farrell, is lambasting any and all opposition to it. The bill is too complicated for the layman to understand, has no trained workforce who can implement it, and will be the gift that keeps on taxing in years to come. Unfortunately, given the ass-clownery currently running the country, there may be enough vainglorious fools present to pass it.

Galasso of SC 9:37PM August 20, 2009

Your commentary about the value of end-of-life discussions is most reasoned and helpful. My wife went through this with both parents in the past 3 years, and while it did not ease our sense of loss, it did ease the process.

I welcome the opportunity, though, to discuss the way in which you have used the general public's fear of colostomy to make your case. Another brick in the stigma wall, I fear.

Ostomies of all types, and other kinds of diversions, happen to people of all ages. And they happen to only about 1 in every 600 of us in an industrialized society. Yes, it's a little more frequent as we age - due to illnesses like cancer of the colon, bladder and ovaries - but we also have some wonderful early screening and intervention options for the most common one, colon cancer.

I understand you did not necessarily mean that each dying person will end up with all of the things you mentioned, but ask that you learn a bit more about the truth of what it is to live with an ostomy as I have done for the past 37 years, and recall that as you write future pieces. See www.uoaa.org .

Ken Aukett, UOAA President of NJ 11:43AM August 20, 2009