End of life talks is not euthanasia
Having just read the article "Study: End-Of-Life Counseling Improves Patient's Moods," Aug. 19, 2009, I was surprised to learn that a House proposal is suggesting to have Medicare actually pay doctors to chat with their patients about end of life decisions, including living wills, powers of attorney for health care, and "do not resuscitate" documents.
Why would we need to spend more of our tax dollars to pay doctors to do something that is already within their scope of practice as a person's primary care provider? As a registered nurse in a long term care facility, I do at times have these types of discussions with my residents and their families. All the hype suggesting that this is a way to legalize euthanasia is absolutely ridiculous!
Death is a part of life, and it only benefits everyone to be properly educated about the decisions that they and their family will make.
It is actually more beneficial to have these discussions while people are still healthy, and of sound mind to make their own decisions. That way, when a situation arises that involves terminal conditions, everyone is aware of what the actual patient's wishes are.
Quality of life, comfort and dignity of the patient should always be the most important factor. Knowledge is power.
Cathy Manhart Pszczolkowski
Hoffman Estates