DEATH PANEL MUSINGS

NO 'DEATH PANEL' IN HOUSE BILL

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR (AP)

"Then what's all the fuss about?"

A: A provision in the House bill written by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore., would allow

Medicare to pay doctors for voluntary counseling sessions that address end-of-life issues.

The conversations between doctor and patient would include living wills, making a close

relative or a trusted friend your health care proxy, learning about hospice as an option for

the terminally ill and information about pain medications for people suffering chronic

discomfort.

The sessions would be covered every five years, more frequently if someone is gravely ill.

Q: Who supports the provision?

A: The American Medical Association, the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

and Consumers Union are among the groups supporting the provision. AARP, the seniors' lobby,

is taking out print advertisements this week that label as false the claim that the

legislation will empower the government to take over life-and-death decisions from

individuals.

Q: Should the federal government be getting involved with living wills and end-of-life

questions — decisions that are highly personal and really difficult?

A: It already is.

The government requires hospitals to ask adult patients if they have a living will, or

"advance directive." If the patient doesn't have one, and wants one, the hospital has to

provide assistance. The mandate on hospitals was instituted during a Republican

administration, in 1992, under then-President George H.W. Bush.

Here is the link to the article :
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jrxylOzrAmdb5s_98jqjr6I0zw0QD9A09HO80

Seeing is believing, look it up.
Ed