"Of course" we don't want end of life counseling and the subsequent official directives that would force the Health "Care" System to allow you to chose to die, at home, surrounded by your loved ones, with enough medication so you are actually free of pain and suffering. Why not? Because that would mean a lot less money pouring into the Health "Care" System on god-only-knows-what life extending equipment, making you breathe, pumping "food" into your gut while you lie there in your excrement waiting for an underpaid/overworked someone on their rounds to actually change your diaper. And when, god forbid, you crash, they'll jolt you with electricity, maybe even crack you open to get your heart beating again, so they can keep you, the cash cow you have become, alive. You can last a long time this way, and thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars will continue to pour into this Health "Care" System all in the name of "preserving life".
Yes, end of life directives can save money, since most people want to be allowed to die, with dignity, in their home whenever possible, and not extend their suffering and the suffering of their loved ones watching their inevitable demise. It is this savings that has the Health "Care" System so afraid. So, they are fighting it with all this fear-mongering about Nazi-like government run "death panels". Be afraid! Be very afraid! But not of end of life counseling, be afraid that the Health "Care" System gets their way, and thwarts any kind of reform.
An addendum to this post...my mom, Claire, died in the home she lived in for almost 50 years, on October 27th, (the day before her 82nd birthday) cared for by the hospice care angels and her loving family. That's the way I wanna go...no hospital rooms, no tubes, no IV's and no fluorescent lights...surrounded by my loved ones, great music, and plenty of pain medication.
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