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Reporting from Washington -- President Obama suggested at a town hall event Wednesday night that one way to shave medical costs is to stop expensive and ultimately futile procedures performed on people who are about to die and don't stand to gain from the extra care.
In a nationally televised event at the White House, Obama said families need better information so they don't unthinkingly approve "additional tests or additional drugs that the evidence shows is not necessarily going to improve care."
He added: "Maybe you're better off not having the surgery, but taking the painkiller."
Obama said he has personal familiarity with such a dilemma. His grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given less than nine months to live, he said.
She fell and broke her hip, "and the question was, does she get hip replacement surgery, even though she was fragile enough they were not sure how long she would last?"
Obama's grandmother died two days before he was elected president in November. It was unclear whether she underwent the hip-replacement surgery.
Obama discusses deathbed measures - Los Angeles Times
Huge kudos to Obama for having the balls to say what needs to be said on this. Here's hoping he takes it one step further and reminds people that egardless of the health care system we have, you're not entitled to all the health care that you want. Elder care is one of the biggest black holes in our current system, and needs to be fixed if any new system has any hope of succeeding.
What bothers me is that the government gets the final decision on what treatment is acceptable. Of course, as it stands today, the insurance company is frequently the final decider. Whatever happened to the belief that the doctor is the most qualified to make these decisions?
What bothers me is that the government gets the final decision on what treatment is acceptable. Of course, as it stands today, the insurance company is frequently the final decider. Whatever happened to the belief that the doctor is the most qualified to make these decisions?
What bothers me is that the government gets the final decision on what treatment is acceptable. Of course, as it stands today, the insurance company is frequently the final decider. Whatever happened to the belief that the doctor is the most qualified to make these decisions?
But....are you entitled to all the health care you can afford?RightinNYC;1058104585[B said:you're not entitled to all the health care that you want.[/B]
But....are you entitled to all the health care you can afford?
Having had to deal with insurance companies and medical decisions for myself, and more notably for my dad as he was dying, I can say that anything would be preferable. Further, no matter how much bureaucracy the government would put on medical coverage, it does not touch what is there now. I am still dealing with my fathers old medical bills, all of which will, eventually, get paid by insurance, 4 years later after his death.
True funny story. I herniated a disc in my neck, which pinched a nerve in my right arm, making work unbearable. Doctor took me off work till I could get all the tests done and see specialist and get surgery. Insurance company turns me down for disability. I call my doctors office to request some information to be faxed to insurance agency, and I explained the situation to her. She tells me that they always turn people down first time out, just mention I was willing to bring in a lawyer if they did not approve me. I tried that and worked like a charm.
I dunno, it seems to me that a doctor would want a procedure to be done even if not necessary just to obtain more money.
Yeah I hope ALL Obama supporters over the age of 18 are not granted any lifesaving procedures.
After all Obama said it..."if its not worth saving why bother".
Waste of government money.
Government over the people in spite of the People!
Already did. Not my job to make you learn how to read.
Even has a picture.
If you have nothing to say in regards to what I said other then meaningless **** like that then keep it to yourself.
Reported for trolling.
Stop Trolling me trying to start an argument.
I gave my opinion.
I don't rightly give a **** if you don't find it up to your personal standard.
Reported for trying to further a troll into an argument.
Yeah I hope ALL Obama supporters over the age of 18 are not granted any lifesaving procedures.
After all Obama said it..."if its not worth saving why bother".
Waste of government money.
I've worked with doctors. Usually I found that the impetus for extra tests was not extra profit, but avoidance of lawsuits.I dunno, it seems to me that a doctor would want a procedure to be done even if not necessary just to obtain more money.
I've worked with doctors. Usually I found that the impetus for extra tests was not extra profit, but avoidance of lawsuits.
Don't threaten me while you troll me.
Reported again ..from now on I report it as harassment.
Yeah I hope ALL Obama supporters over the age of 18 are not granted any lifesaving procedures.
After all Obama said it..."if its not worth saving why bother".
Waste of government money.
. . . I can say that anything would be preferable. . ..
Please take a moment to consider the Federal Tax Code. It has spawned an industry that offers trained employees just to help the average citizen pay routine annual taxes, and army of depicted lawyers to help companies try to decipher what the law says that they owe in corporate taxes.
I stress again that all of this effort is used to correctly file routine paperwork.
I can only surmise that the clerical requirements under any of the proposed systems which would be vastly more complicated.
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