As the debate on heath care reform heats up, the phrase “end of life counseling” is used as a canard by opponents of change. According to many of them, end of life counseling is the equivalent of a death panel where those worthy of saving will be, and those deemed too expensive to maintain will have the plug pulled. One would have to go back to the McCarthy period to find this level of accusation and inaccuracy. But where is it coming from?
The simple answer is from those who have a vested interest in keeping insurance a monopoly of private insurance carriers. But a more complex and meaningful answer is from the fear people have of a health care system that is broken. Unfortunately, it is a fear that is fueled by those with financial and political interests that will be adversely affected by healthcare reform.
Contrary to what Senator Grassely thinks, end of life counseling involves the person who has a terminal disease sitting down with loved ones, a family physician, sometimes a spiritual care advisor, and hospice representatives. The purpose is not to dictate how the person’s life will end, but rather to provide an opportunity for him or her to make the decision.
Comments
Stan,
No mater how you slice it, if the socialist obama gets his way with health care, there will be people dying in line just like in Canada and England where the gov't should control anything but Health Care! The gov't could not even figure out how to run the Post Office for profit and now you want them controlling healthcare? You must be joking!!!!!
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