Obama Returns to End-of-Life Plan, blames ol’ Bush… (NYT,WSJ)
San Jose Care Resource Guide: So Obama is after Grandma again (Ok, maybe Great-Grandma).
Quoting the New York Times:
“…When a proposal to encourage end-of-life planning touched off a political storm over “death panels,” Democrats dropped it from legislation to overhaul the health care system. But the Obama administration will achieve the same goal by regulation, starting Jan. 1…”
Hey, we have the bully pulpit: If we can’t get it voted in, let us decree !
“…Under the new policy, outlined in a Medicare regulation, the government will pay doctors who advise patients on options for end-of-life care, which may include advance directives to forgo aggressive life-sustaining treatment…”
Question is: Why does the Obama administration want to take the risk of substantial fallout? For the possible Medicare savings, so that it continue catering to pet constituencies?
Answer: Maybe, but more like social engineering and liberal credo above all and ”Damn the torpedoes” !
Quoting the Wall Street Journal (Dec,27,2010):
“…The new Medicare rule, issued Dec. 3, is less specific. It says advance-care planning includes a discussion of setting up an advance directive that would tell doctors what to do if the patient is too ill to make medical decisions…”
“… It [the White House] said the George W. Bush administration had already put in place guidelines allowing for Medicare to pay for end-of-life consultations….” So, Obama tries to blame President Bush for this shameful attempt at pressuring the eldely and/or very sick to call it quits. Facts are a little bit different. Quoting the WSJ’s article again:
“…Corrections & Amplifications :
Congress passed a law making changes to Medicare in 2008 by overriding President George W. Bush’s veto. A previous version of this [WSJ] article incorrectly said Mr. Bush signed the legislation…” Ooops!
Let us now imagine the Dialogue Doctor and sick elderly. It would go something like this:
Medicare Doctor: Good morning Ms Jane Doe! How are we this morning?
Sick Elderly: Oh not so good: I feel weak and in pain.
Medicare Doctor: Well, Jane, I afraid it is not go going to get better. Probably worse….
Sick Elderly: What can you do for me?
Medicare Doctor: Jane there is this [expensive] chemotherapy , but the side effects will be hard. More [expensive] surgery is possible, but there are no promises that you will feel better, in fact probably worse….
Sick Elderly: But I will see my grand kids for a little longer….
Medicare Doctor: You might not be able to enjoy them through the coming pain…In fact it might be a traumatizing sight for them.
Sick Elderly: Really, I did not think of that….
Medicare Doctor: I am authorized to let you know we can help you part with dignity and less pain. Think of it…
Was the Sick Elderly lied to? Probably not. Was she led to believe it is OK to end a life softly and at will? Probably so. You see, folks, it boils down to your philosophy: In a G-dless world were life is just an accident of nature, euthanasia or the killing softly of the very sick could make sense to a lot of people. To a lot of people turning their back on the Bible that is…..
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