Contributors

Saturday, August 08, 2009

The Latest Lie

The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health care.

The above comment was made by former Alaskan governor Sara Palin in regards to President Obama's health care plan. Here is one from a chain email which I'm sure that some of you have seen.

On Page 425 of Obama’s health care bill, the Federal Government will require EVERYONE who is on Social Security to undergo a counseling session every 5 years with the objective being that they will explain to them just how to end their own life earlier. Yes…They are going to push SUICIDE to cut medicare spending!!!

As I mentioned earlier in the week, one of the many bits of insanity that are coming out at these town hall meetings from the right (disseminated by their propaganda network) is that the Obama bill will force euthanasia. I'll put some videos up in the next day or two in which seemingly ordinary Americans are comparing Obama to Hitler.

Taking our shuttle back to earth, we can see that these claims are flat out wrong. From factcheck.org.

In truth, that section of the bill would require Medicare to pay for voluntary counseling sessions helping seniors to plan for end-of-life medical care, including designating a health care proxy, choosing a hospice and making decisions about life-sustaining treatment. It would not require doctors to counsel that their patients refuse medical intervention.

Page 425 does deal with counseling sessions for seniors, but it is far from recommending a "Logan’s Run" approach to Medicare spending. In fact, it requires Medicare to cover counseling sessions for seniors who want to consider their end-of-life choices – including whether they want to refuse or, conversely, require certain types of care. The claim that the bill would "push suicide" is a falsehood.

And here is page 425.

H.R. 3200, page 425: Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the term ‘advance care planning consultation’ means a consultation between the individual and a practitioner described in paragraph (2) regarding advance care planning, if, subject to paragraph (3), the individual involved has not had such a consultation within the last 5 years. Such consultation shall include the following:

(A) An explanation by the practitioner of advance care planning, including key questions and considerations, important steps, and suggested people to talk to.

(B) An explanation by the practitioner of advance directives, including living wills and durable powers of attorney, and their uses.

(C) An explanation by the practitioner of the role and responsibilities of a health care proxy.

(D) The provision by the practitioner of a list of national and State-specific resources to assist consumers and their families with advance care planning … .

(E) An explanation by the practitioner of the continuum of end-of-life services and supports available, including palliative care and hospice, and benefits for such services and supports that are available under this title.

(F)(i) Subject to clause (ii), an explanation of orders regarding life sustaining treatment or similar orders … .

So, essentially, this offers each individual more choice and help...a word that must mean "the devil" in wing nut land.

Factcheck goes on to explain why yet another right wing lie is wrong.

9 comments:

juris imprudent said...

Hey M, I don't suppose you have a link to verify what Palin said do you.

Just sayin'.

Mark Ward said...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2019424&id=590862831#/note.php?note_id=113851103434

Mark Ward said...

And I linked in now in the full post. Thanks juris:)

juris imprudent said...

How about a real media outlet quote? I have no idea if Sarah Palin actually has a Facebook page, but I kinda tend to doubt it.

Mark Ward said...

It is her official page and people from her office are confirming she wrote it...or that is that it was an official release.

juris imprudent said...

You say that but you don't provide any link that verifies such. If I made such a claim about Nancy Pelosi wouldn't you expect me to have the goods - or can I just claim that someone told me so? This is why people tend to not find you credible; it is also the standard that all posters at TSM are expected to meet (or get their asses called on it).

Mark Ward said...

I'm not sure what other link would like me to provide. Every major and minor media outlet released this quote from her and called it official. A simple google search will reveal this.

In addition, no one from Palin's office denied it. As you probably know, many people release official statements through Facebook and Twitter now.

juris imprudent said...

As you probably know, many people release official statements through Facebook and Twitter now.

Actually I wasn't aware of any such thing. Yet another sign of the decline of the Republic.

However, I did find confirmation, so sadly I stand corrected. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised - Palin has yet to plumb the depths of her stupidity.

Mark Ward said...

No big deal, juris. I thank you for being picky because it does help me keep on my toes. Not putting in the link was a very large error on my part.