"Death panel" architect a pro-life Republican from Georgia?

[Winnie]

• 25% of all Medicare dollars are spent on end of life care that studies show 70% of people say they do not want but which hospitals are forced to provide if the patient does not sign a DNR
• I have seen many, many families prolong life to the point of torture in order to collect Social Security and other benefits for patients
• People who want extreme measure would still be able to be hooked to a ventilator and fed through a tube and pumped full of expensive antibiotics and breed new strains of MRSA and hospital-acquired pnemonia if they so choose, it would just require a preference be stated ahead of time.

Why doesn't the AMA or another provider group educate the physicians on the need to discuss end of life care options with each new patient? That seems like a more direct and less political way to go about it.

 

[scooterbug44]

As I understand it, all the mandate did was COVER the portion of the visit that was used to discuss the issue. Previously it wasn't covered, so the patient either paid for it or the doctor included it in a different billing code.

Personally I always considered discussions of this type to be "preventative" medicine. It's amazing how little most people plan for the future - especially emergencies - and your major medical decisions are not something to ignore.

 

[Winnie]

As I understand it, all the mandate did was COVER the portion of the visit that was used to discuss the issue. Previously it wasn't covered, so the patient either paid for it or the doctor included it in a different billing code.

Personally I always considered discussions of this type to be "preventative" medicine. It's amazing how little most people plan for the future - especially emergencies - and your major medical decisions are not something to ignore.

I do think it's a great idea to discuss end of life care with your physician. I ask mine about all sorts of stuff during my annual visit. He just charges for the annual exam and any tests but not for the discussions. As I said before though, I took care of that planning years ago and at a young age. I had to pay a lawyer, not my doctor. I did it with my will.

I don't think it is a good thing to add to a health care reform bill. It appears to be an added cost, not really reform.

In any case, I think that I read it has been dropped from the House plan for the time being.

 

[Iris]

Show me evidence Dick Cheney isn't forming a death squad of ex-CIA sharpshooters to exterminate seniors with shotgun blasts to the face.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised and any death squad he put together. He did some pretty behind closed door things that were real close to skirting Federal Law. He feels as though he is above the law.

 

[TooFarTampa]

How can someone be so annoying and yet so entertaining at the same time?

Apparently Miss Quitty, you forgot about that Death Panel Day you held in Alaska in April 2008.

Sarah Palin: Thanks But No Thanks On That Death Panel | LiveWire

As governor, Palin declared April 16, 2008, "Healthcare Decisions Day," signing a proclamation to "encourage medical professionals and lawyers to volunteer their time and efforts to ... increase the number of Alaska's citizens with advance directives."

Can we all just agree that she has absolutely no depth whatsoever?

 

[Lake View Too]

Too Far Tampa: You are the absolute master of intelligent research. It is just plain delightful to get facts, on these forums, even if it's extremely intermittant.

 

[Rita]

How can someone be so annoying and yet so entertaining at the same time?

Apparently Miss Quitty, you forgot about that Death Panel Day you held in Alaska in April 2008.

Sarah Palin: Thanks But No Thanks On That Death Panel | LiveWire



Can we all just agree that she has absolutely no depth whatsoever?

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What a find!


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[Jdarg]

How can someone be so annoying and yet so entertaining at the same time?

Apparently Miss Quitty, you forgot about that Death Panel Day you held in Alaska in April 2008.

Sarah Palin: Thanks But No Thanks On That Death Panel | LiveWire



Can we all just agree that she has absolutely no depth whatsoever?

Um, yes.

 

[LuciferSam]

Too Far Tampa: You are the absolute master of intelligent research. It is just plain delightful to get facts, on these forums, even if it's extremely intermittant.

Really is that so? Well she may be a master of intelligent research, but we're all slaves to intelligent design. You betcha. :nono1:;-)

 

[TooFarTampa]

Too Far Tampa: You are the absolute master of intelligent research. It is just plain delightful to get facts, on these forums, even if it's extremely intermittant.

Master no. Obsessive-compulsive news junkie yes.

Palin Derangement Syndrome? You betcha.