Talk of death panels is pure nonsense
If you repeat an outrageous lie enough times, people will start to believe the ridiculous. This is the likely explanation for Cal Thomas' scree on Jan. 5 (“Heed Palin's warning on death panels”). The government is about to get into the elderly-killing business, he warns. The current health care policy is just a few steps away from “government-mandated euthanasia.” “The killings . . . will take place out of sight . . . and the government will see it as a means of ‘reducing the surplus population,'” he intones (in a spooky tone of voice, most likely).
What is Thomas talking about? One section of the health care bill deals with preparing for end-of-life care. When doctors are giving a routine medical exam to elderly patients, they can include a discussion about the patient's wishes at the time of the inevitable as a billable service. Patients have the option to say, “Shut up, doc, I don't want to talk about that.” Doctors have the option to skip it. It's just a conversation.
A few years ago, my parents sent me a set of documents that included their wills and instructions on what to do if they are terminally ill and physically unable to make their own decisions. I have never opened them because the thought of my parents dying is just too depressing, but I'm glad I have the documents. It was an act of love to me to make their wishes known and have their affairs in order. And it started with a conversation with someone, somewhere — maybe in a doctor's office.
“Government-mandated euthanasia!” Thomas and his ilk are trading in fear and paranoia, frantically trying to whip up panic about a very sensible provision.
Joyce Haworth
Des Plaines