Comments on: Deal or No Deal?

By: Sage

Sage — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:23:03 +0000

It was controversial because of people who want to kill health care reform lying about it. It’s really time Americans grow up and do some research for themselves and quit listening to hysteria producing sound bytes. We really shouldn’t have to cater to the lowest common denominator.

By: Sage

Sage — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:21:51 +0000

Blue Dog Democrats I imagine. They are against the health care reform, period.

There’s nothing nefarious about doctor’s being paid to discuss living wills with patients. Would that those same congressman had been equally worried about the wording of the Patriot Act.

By: AliSilver

AliSilver — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:17:24 +0000

and whether it is or is not, it was controversial ENOUGH that it being gone now will help the process move forward.

By: AliSilver

AliSilver — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:16:05 +0000

Sage, I read a lot of quote from DEM congress folks who said the wording of it and implications should make seniors leary at best !

By: skyagunsta

skyagunsta — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:14:36 +0000

You are right. It is just that I am a coward when thinking about death. Although, I want my death to be as natural a death as death can be, so I am warming up to the idea of a living will. On the last surgery that I had in 2007 I refused them permission to give me a blood transfusion should I have needed one. Luckily, I did not need one. I have to find the rest of my courage to do a living will because you are very right. It is best to have one.

By: Sage

Sage — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:04:33 +0000

the end of life provisions was blown all out of proportion – all it did was allow doctors to charge for times spent discussing living wills with the patients. That’s the kind of thing I have no patience with. the bill should be argued on it’s real merits not made up crap.

By: Sage

Sage — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:01:50 +0000

“FOBs” refers to follow-on biological drugs. Democrats have pushed to make it easier to allow generic drug makers to produce cheaper versions of such drugs, an effort Big Pharma has resisted.

By: Wizcon

Wizcon — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:09:23 +0000

I guess you have to ask yourself what your decision would be about your care in any given scenerio. When is enough enough. How valuable is your quality of life to you. Conversly, you can designate that you be kept alive under all circumstances, even if you are brain dead and reliant on machines into perpetuaty.
My reasons for being so clear is in part, to relieve my kids and caretakers of the indecision when faced with an extremely emotional situation, before it gets emotional.You are making the decision, not them ultimately. That situation is agonizing enough as it is for your loved ones. It gives first you, then them and finally the medical people input. The govenment gets involved when there is no clear cut path. Personally, I do not want a judge deciding for me no do I want my kids to go through this.
They saw first hand with their father, the indecision, delays of treatment and in-fighting that no directive or POA causes.
I admit, when I thought it all out, I cried. It’s not an easy thing to think about when you are younger and healthy. But many do not think of this. Even older folks just don’t want to think about the inevitable. It’s not that they feel immortal, they just put it off.

By: skyagunsta

skyagunsta — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:31:00 +0000

The difference is, in your case, you planned out of your own free will (and possibly at a time when no one was being threatened by an end of life situation)…and blessedly, it worked out well in the case of your 24 yr. old, who at a very young age, has faced life threatening situations, and blessedly the documents allowed you to pick up medications for her. PTL (Praise The Lord).

But for the government to tell us that this is something that we have to do … the way I see it is, if it is not beind done out of the free will of the person, it is, in my mind, like leading a cow to a slaughter house and telling it … now look and take a good look becauuse no matter what, you are going to end up here, so which slaughtering house would you like better? That is how I felt twice when I faced surgery and was asked by hospital staff if I had a living will and if I didn’t would I like to have one. Medically that would have been the time to do it. Psychologically and emotionally it was not. I still have not done it but I am warming up to the idea slowly, and only because I don’t want anyone else to have to deal with my end of life when that comes around.

By: Wizcon

Wizcon — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:42:48 +0000

Hi Ali!
I don’t get the hoopla about the “end of life” provision. It’s common sense to have directives. Grassley is right that it should be done well before old age.
When kids turn 18, parents are blocked from their medical information and any input in their care unless the young adult has medical directives to allow that. Because of that, my kids all did a medical, personal and financial POA as well as directive so they are covered if they can’t speak for them selves. I can’t tell you how valuable this has been for my 24 yr old, Who has experienced life threatening illness’s the last couple of years. WIth out these documents, I couldn’t even pick up her meds for her!
Government has to intervene when there are no directives,( IE Terry Schavio) and there is a dispute between family members on what the persons wishes are. Add in the medical codes that really don’t allow them to not treat a hopeless situation.