From the LA Times:
Reporting from Washington — President Obama suggested at a town hall event Wednesday night that one way to shave medical costs is to stop expensive and ultimately futile procedures performed on people who are about to die and don't stand to gain from the extra care.
In a nationally televised event at the White House, Obama said families need better information so they don't unthinkingly approve "additional tests or additional drugs that the evidence shows is not necessarily going to improve care."
He added: "Maybe you're better off not having the surgery, but taking the painkiller."
There's an interesting contradiction here. According to the pro-choice perspective, it's outrageous for the state to interfere in a woman's decision to terminate a pregnancy. But it's pragmatic and reasonable for the state to consider terminating a person, if some money can be saved.
8 comments:
He's merely parroting what happens in nations with Nationally Managed Care.
You've got cancer. Chemo might not work and it's expensive.
The solution. Morphine is cheap.
It's a brave new world.
Be a good comrade and step aside so the rest of the collective can save money.
Actually as a health care professional, I am in favor of families making end of life stop-care decisions. BUT, it should only be based on personal beliefs, not saving money.
If we start down this road, where will we stop? What is the definition of a life worth saving? What is life-saving surgery? Coronary Artery By Pass Grafts? Organ transplants?
BTW T.C., I left your site and was thinking about your post. Every Monday I have been trying to pose a question for people to comment on. I am off a day because of vacation. I linked to your post. Thanks for getting the creative juices flowing.
You're welcome, Chuck. Thanks for supporting my site with the link. Any time I can get the creative juices flowing, that's a good thing.
I was directed here by Chuck's blog. Thanks for an insightful post. The double-standards are mind-blowing, aren't they?
Chuck sent me.
As a sister of a now deceased Downs Syndrome person, I cannot help but wonder what her chances would have been in the new health care plan.
My mother is 88 and she is declining. Will we have to quit taking her in for medical care once this is rammed down our throat?
Why does not T. Kennedy just go hole up and die and show us all how they expect us to do this?
Chuck is right..the bottom line is this decision should NOT be made about MONEY.
I saw a young woman talking to Laura Ingraham about the 'every 5 year consultation with the elderly about their OPTIONS' She was loathsome, it was like I expected her incisors to lengthen as she spoke! VERY smug and assuring Laura Ingraham (who's a cancer survivor and lost her mother from cancer) that every family should have this discussion...as if they don't. She made Dr Kevorkian look fun.
Yes, it's morphine when there are no more options...but making the decision based on finances, made by my gov't? NO WAY. Because you know that decision will NOT be your choice...it'll be "WE decided you're too sick to continue the meds.."
Yes; with abortion, it's a WOMAN'S CHOICE: With the elderly, it's the STATE'S CHOICE....Such hypocrites.
With Israel, it's good for us to MEDDLE, with Iran, "It's best America doesn't MEDDLE". HYPOCRISY in Obama apparently doesn't limit itself to one subject.
I just had to add something (as if I hadn't said ENOUGH?)
I love that a "radical Right-Wing Extremist" looks like YOU!
I had to comment finally because that picture is terrific and I always love that WE CAN BE BEAUTIFUL AND HIP, too!! GOOD JOB, TC!
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