Rationing Health Care for Seniors

I'm happy that you actually have a doctor and an insurance company. Many people don't have that luxury. My son works in a restaurant, and like many other working poor, he has no insurance. That means he pays the highest rates for his medical care, and doesn't go until he's really sick.

My almost 100 y/o mother-in-law, still alert and oriented and in independent living, was admitted to the hospital with CHF a few weeks ago. We had her taken by ambulance when she was having breathing problems. 45 minutes later we had a call from the E.R. doctor, who wanted her medical history. We discussed her advance directive, and her desire for comfort measures only. Two days later she passed away. That's the way she wanted it to be.

Her doctor was also aware of her wishes, and co-operated as he should.

I hope that Eunice Shriver has an Advance Directive. And doctors and family who will go along with her wishes, no matter how much money they are willing to put into health care. I can't see that changing with any Health care Initiative.

What do you expect when you chose the title for this discussion? The title implies that you believe there is "already rationing of care for the elderly." If your point was about preferential treatment for the wealthy or celebrities, perhaps that is what you should have stated....

just a thought....

Big Brother will really be watching you now.

Yep CapeCodMermaid is on the "fishy" list now.

As one time that would be a joke but now the White House has a special email address to report people to re educate them regarding the health care plan.

Flag@whitehouse.gov

Yes. You are asked to report any "fishy" emails, texts, or conversations.

Spirited debate is all part of the fun....

Poor Ms. Shriver needs hospice, not ICU.....people don't live forever. Yes, she is getting special treatment because she is a wealthy, well-connected person. Nothing new there, however. I don't see that changing with socialized medicine, either, as the wealthy will just use their clout to influence their legislators to pressure the hospitals.....

Consider this guy to be your fishy Big Brother.

Slight thread drift here:

I wonder if Mrs. Shriver's hospitalization will have any effect on the way Governor Schwarzenegger perceives nurses.