Why Obamacare Is Sinking

[cobra de capell]

Also........

comments.

'Euthanasia' claims stoke seniors' fears on health care (talk radio, end-of-life rationing)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...yndication=rss
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The controversy stems from a proposal to pay physicians who counsel elderly or terminally ill patients about what medical interventions they would prefer near the end of life and how to prepare instructions such as living wills. Under the plan, Medicare would reimburse doctors for one session every five years to confer with a patient about his or her wishes and how to ensure those preferences are followed. The counseling sessions would be voluntary.

Read this very carefully. It is voluntary, the counseling is voluntary. The requirement is to have physicians provide end of life counseling, every 5 years. The incentive for a physician to do this is the money from the government. Note too, your living will requirements become "preferences."

Any of us who have had to deal with a serious illness for ourselves or a loved one have had counseling from either the staff at the hospital, our doctors, or our personal attorneys. This counseling is already provided in many cases. Just go for an in-patient surgery and you will have someone visiting you before your surgery with all the forms from a living will to the do not resuscitate orders. You will be asked to sign them and most likely strong armed in some manner to sign them. Often hospitals won't even accept your attorney prepared paperwork.

My point. This stuff basically already exists. Why is it even in the legislation? What is it they are trying to "change" in the current situations? Doctors and hospitals already do this in order to avoid litigation. Now the government is going to mandate it come from the doctors to the patient vs. the patient directives to the doctor. But, what is the purpose if not to lower the costs?

By the way, Canadian Health Care: A Viable Model? (John Stossel on ABC's 20/20 TONIGHT 10pm EST) http://abcnews.go.com/2020