Interesting Items 8/17 – Death Panels
Death Panels. Section 1233 of HR 3200, the Waxman version of ObamaCare, provides for end of life counseling by physicians. There is no written penalty for the patient to refuse the counseling. There is however financial incentive for the physician to provide such counseling and initiate the discussion. This provision has been hotly contested, its existence denied by everyone on the left and many on the right, but it does exist. Last week former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin referred to this counseling as Death Panels, prompting a flat denial from senior US Senator from Alaska Lisa Murkowski. Murkowski was raked over the coals by Limbaugh late in the week for her statement. On the other hand, Palin’s somewhat over the top description of this counseling as Death Panels did get the appropriate response, with an announcement by Max Baucus (D, MT) late in the week that there would be no Death Panels in the senate version of the legislation. Question for the defenders: If there were no Death Panels, why are they now being removed from the legislation?
More later — AG
“If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, go home from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”
- Samuel Adams, speech at the Philadelphia State House, August 1, 1776.
Note: Interesting Items can be found also at the following locations: MatSu Valley News and the home page. Rod Martin’s The Vanguard site is also a long-time supporter of this column. Alex Gimarc is a long-time member of the Town Hall Conservative group.
