"Death Panel" Stories Are Democrats' Own Doing

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Apparently Jim Madison prefers partisanship to thinking.Name calling to understanding. If he did not, he would not attack Alaska and it governor for encouraging individuals to think of what they want done with them during catastrophic illness or call a young medical school student dumb, simply because the student has different moral values.
Perhaps Mr. Madison might care to look at history. Germany was in a horrible depression when Hitler came up with the idea of euthanizing his own "non productive" people.First it was the retarded, then the insane, then epileptics. The German people were not told that they were purifying their race, they were told these people were hopeless and a burden on their families and ultimately the econonomy. When all was said and done, twelve million had died because they gave their government control of what was hitherto God's domain.
Alaska is not penalizing it's Doctor's for not meeting a quota of people they have convinced to make Living Wills. Alaska is simply encouraging people to think about how they wish to go out. Their thoughts are their own. No pressure from someone afraid of getting a bad rating by The Panel.
The name calling, which runs rampant on the Left, needs to stop.
The young Medical Student is entitled to his sense of morality, so long as it does not run counter to the law. Mr. Madison has an obligation, as an American, to respect the beliefs of others. As a gentleman, he should refrain from calling those who do not see things his way, dumb.
I for one have no idea of what is in President Obama's head with regard to End of Life Discussions. I do know that there has never been a government program that did not take on a life of it's own when beaurocrats start protecting their turf.
Let us put an end to the name calling, and sound bytes, in order that we, the people, can hear honest, reaoned debate of the issue

Charles V Potter of NY 9:35PM August 28, 2009

This link has a list of parties http://www.squidoo.com/uspresident 3 of which are in the news all the time most of the others seem to be a tax shelter or something because you rarely hear about them. It could be that the media is at fault (they got paid off or something) or it could be "those other parties" are not serious and are there for other purposes. It does not matter much to me because I am tired of the competition between the top 2 parties at the expense of America.
Most people that I know complain about not trusting the government but they complain to one another and not to the politicians who if were under fire might help but they rarely hear from the people and only in small numbers so they do what they want with the influence of other more expierianced politicians around them.
And the people complain among one another and take it like sheep being hearded by A well trained dog.
We need to populated city counsel rooms demand more town hall meetings and know what is happening when the local government knows because it is hard to stop a train in motion but you can slow it down or stop it if you know where it is and when it will arrive.
This is an example of a site we all should have in our cities and towns
http://www.cottagegrove.org/
Don D. Brock

Don D. Brock of AZ 6:10PM August 24, 2009

As a nurse of 30 years, I am still moved at the fear I witness regarding end of life issues. That fear is from patients, their loved-ones, the community at large and even other healthcare workers. That fear is generated by many things--by the 'ultimate unknown', by grappling with one's health status and anticipated prognosis, by the ongoing and erosive loss of one's mastery of body and/or mind as illness advances or recurs, by a belief that to alter choice from acute-care to palliation or hospice equates to 'giving-up'. Further, to speak of changing a care choice leads an otherwise hopeful person or their loved-ones to become hopeless. Some even equate altering care not only to giving up but to cowardice. But unlike Dylan Thomas "...do not go gentle into that good night..." I for one see enormous courage in participating in conversation regarding end of life cares, including not only changing the direction of care but changing the object of hope and considering closing one's life with a sense of peace and comfort, instead of rage.
My distress with blatantly fabricated ideas such as 'death panels' is the subsequent postured, even fear-based response of some public figures. On Ms. McCaughey's RID (reduce infection deaths) website, she provides as one example of victories for the RID organization..."Last year, Medicare...announced that it will stop paying hospitals to treat several types of hospital infections that are preventable...Hospitals will be barred from billing patients for what Medicare doesn't pay." Apparently, Ms. McCaughey is in favor of "the federal health program for the elderly and disabled" withholding payment to or barring billing of hospitals when 'her' concerns are involved. When the House reform bill proposes that same agency provide practitioners reimbursement for discussing advances directives and alternate care choices (eg hospice) with their patients, more than her disfavor is evident. How can any of us make informed healthcare decisions if we don't have all the information, information that, dare I say, would be in such a conversation with one's care provider?
It seems we all have responsibilities in this universal experience of life at twilight.
To all adults who have no advanced directives in place: All the wise folks (most healthcare providers, social workers, spiritual counselors, lawyers) strongly suggest that early execution of advanced directives is the way to go. Do it when you are well, without the stress of illness. For those who are ill or very ill, the sooner you can discuss care choices and initiate directives, the better.
To all health and other professionals approached for end of life discussions: Continue on. This is not the time to posture away from these difficult but essential conversations. In fact, it is exactly the time to press forward and remain attentive and responsive to those living in the proximity of their death, which is in fact, all of us.

Patti O'Keefe-Downs, RN, Certified Legal Nurse Consultant of AZ 5:39PM August 22, 2009

What is the big deal here anyway? So what, I mean, if these old people are like really sick and have crummy lives, then whats the big deal if they have to be put down? Like, they can't hardly drive anyway. They go soooo slow! My grammie died of smoking or something when I was like 10, and I remember how weird she smelled when she was old, totally gross! But I really think free health care is like super cool, I really like it myself. I get this medic aide stuff, like, because I get SSI. It is so awesome! Like, I don't want to be old and stinky, though, so if I had to like be put out of misery, that would be cool. But, Obama is so totally cool, they should just let him do this, for sure. Thanks.

Tiffany Chandeler of KS 7:24PM August 21, 2009

MSNBC and the NYT are "reliable purveyors of information" in your world? Only if you have the need to know what will be best for Obama's political career. For a redneck whackjob Sarah Palin has sure had a good time torching Obama's health care mess.From her window she can see the charred remains of his Presidency

Jordan of NJ 3:34PM August 21, 2009

Physician reimbursement for completely voluntary end-of-life counseling is not a 'death panel'.
If it was, then Sarah Palin was in favor of 'death panels' before she was against them, since, as governor, she declared that April 16, 2008 was 'Health Care Decisions Day in Alaska' as a way to promote end-of-life counseling.
Roff has no moral center, so this kind of thing normal for him, but the 'scary' thing about the post by Jordan is the claim that he or she is a medical student. God help us if somebody this easily misled becomes a healthcare provider. For the most part, the people buying into this lie are just plain dumb.

jimatmadison of WI 7:26AM August 20, 2009

Thank you so much for a very provactive and honest article on the provision. This is a case of where we need to think of the future and what this provision can lead to. An article in the WSJ (as I remember) also mentioned a VA pamphlet on advanced care and a VA directive requiring it.
I also went to a health lawyer blog where they talked about a training session for health professionals on advanced care. The training description went so far as to talk about encouraging people to make a directive, talking to them about the burden they put on families and the community in these difficult unsteady economic times.
How very cruel. This is not what families want, health care that puts blame on their loved ones as they die. It is hard enough to deal with those times without having such uncaring, unthoughtful professionals.
I had a living will before this. I have no revoked it and left only the power of atttorney for my husband on health care choices if I am unable to make a decision.
I have never felt so utterly disappointed with the medical profession in all my life, yet I still do believe that in general they are good people and think they on the most part do their very best. The United States does have very good health care, and the statistics show that when they are properly adjusted for the differences of our society.

wyn of IL 2:35AM August 20, 2009

As a Christian medical student the idea of being penalized for not adhering to 'counseling' that is against my beliefs is really pretty frightening. With this as precedent, what will stop me from losing more of my autonomy as a healthcare provider for simply believing in the sanctity of life? Also- if the legislation is so openly immoral, what will happen if it is passed and the government has complete control to make additional rules and modifications to its liking?

Jordan of MI 7:07PM August 19, 2009