End of life counseling

Yesterday, I experienced end of life counseling in a discussion with my father, other family members and my father's doctor. It was horrifically sad, but very humane. The doctor was very kind and sensitive to everyone, and understood the complex nature of the discussion. This was no death panel, this was not the government deciding health care for an elderly person. It was a kind way of ensuring that if a patient does not want to continue on in a life with pain and suffering they can make an informed, intelligent choice about whether to have CPR or other measures taken to bring then back. This is what Medicare provides for, and everyone should be entitled to this, to be shown forms for living wills and health care proxies so this is all set up for them, it saves everyone time, energy, money (especially if you have to get we evil lawyers involved in the process) and most importantly emotional pain.

I am so tired of listening to the illogical debates and discussions. What a great loss today for the debate in Ted Kennedy's death. We need someone to step up with a great voice who can frame the issues and move us past emotion and into facts and logic. Unfortunately, however much I admire President Obama, he is not leading us, he handed us over to the wolves in Congress, to the hissing lobbyists and pharma companies and insurance companies to cut up the spoils they will invariably end up with. How sad for all of us that these issues continue to be politicized.