Quote Originally Posted by jorgen
Do you want to be drug tested by the government to get healthcare? And lets not forget the cost effectiveness of euthanasia...
Complete fucking hogwash. Let me shoot all this crazy "deather" bullshit down RIGHT NOW.

Page 424-425 of the "health care plan" :

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-...3200ih.txt.pdf

‘‘(D) The provision by the practitioner of a list
13 of national and State-specific resources to assist con
14 sumers and their families with advance care plan
15 ning, including the national toll-free hotline, the ad
16 vance care planning clearinghouses, and State legal
17 service organizations (including those funded
18 through the Older Americans Act of 1965).
19 ‘‘(E) An explanation by the practitioner of the
20 continuum of end-of-life services and supports avail
21 able, including palliative care and hospice, and bene
22 fits for such services and supports that are available
23 under this title.

Basically what all this means is that for seniors having a health crisis, they can get a free consultation with medical professionals to discuss their options for continuing life support, creating a living will, etc etc. Such consultations are completely voluntary, it is the patients choice to have one or not.

Something like this would be useful in preventing families from getting into a 'Terri Schaivo" situation in the event that their insurance/medicare/VA/etc won't cover such a consultation. Not only does it make it easier for families, but think about how much is spent on legal battles over stuff like this and the costs that can be saved.

This addition to the bill was introduced by Georgia's own Republican Senator Johnny Isakson, then taken waaaaaay out of context by 527's and advocacy groups owned by the insurance and drug companies.

My family has dealt with a few terminal diseases over the years (my mother is fighting ALS now), and its always hard trying to decide what you think someone wanted because that person wasn't able to make their own arrangements before they passed. This addition to the health care bill will help people live and die with the dignity and respect they deserve. I'm all for it