Krauthammer takes on the ‘death panel’ charge
In his column today, Charles Krauthammer tries to offer a reasonable, honest discussion of the whole “death panels” charge:
“We might start by asking Sarah Palin to leave the room. I’ve got nothing against her. She’s a remarkable political talent. But there are no ‘death panels’ in the Democratic health-care bills, and to say that there are is to debase the debate.
We also have to tell the defenders of the notorious Section 1233 of H.R. 3200 that it is not quite as benign as they pretend. To offer government reimbursement to any doctor who gives end-of-life counseling — whether or not the patient asked for it — is to create an incentive for such a chat.
What do you think such a chat would be like? Do you think the doctor will go on and on about the fantastic new million-dollar high-tech gizmo that can prolong the patient’s otherwise hopeless condition for another six months? Or do you think he’s going to talk about — as the bill specifically spells out — hospice care and palliative care and other ways of letting go of life?”
Krauthammer claims that the purpose of the provision is to cut costs for Medicare by pushing patients to accept death. “You have to be a fool or a knave to deny that it’s intended to gently point the patient in a certain direction, toward the corner of the sickroom where stands a ghostly figure, scythe in hand, offering release,” he writes.
Well, fine. Call me a knave or a fool. Personally, I think the measure is intended to encourage people to think beforehand about such issues, just as most medical and legal experts suggest. It is a good, smart idea. Remember, Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson sponsored an amendment earlier this year that would have made a living will or directive mandatory in order to be eligible for Medicare. Was he secretly trying to push old people into death? Or does he honestly, sincerely believe it’s a good idea to have such issues addressed early?
Krauthammer himself acknowledges that living wills are a good idea, because he himself has one.
“My own living will, which I have always considered more a literary than a legal document, basically says: ‘I’ve had some good innings, thank you. If I have anything so much as a hangnail, pull the plug.’ I’ve never taken it terribly seriously because unless I’m comatose or demented, they’re going to ask me at the time whether or not I want to be resuscitated if I go into cardiac arrest. The paper I signed years ago will mean nothing.”
And while Krauthammer implies an economic motive behind the bill language, if we’re going to be rational and honest we should also address the reality of a powerful countervailing motive. What about the subtle but real economic incentive for doctors and hospitals to keep providing treatment beyond the point when it has a chance of being effective? Doctors and hospital administrators make more money — sometimes a lot more money — by deploying what Krauthammer calls “the fantastic new million-dollar high-tech gizmo that can prolong the patient’s otherwise hopeless condition for another six months.” In some cases, the doctor himself may have an ownership interest in the particular equipment.
It is possible, if you strain hard enough, to read a nefarious purpose into even the most innocuous and well-intentioned proposal. In this case, people are apparently willing to strain very very very hard.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2011 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
336 comments Add your comment
TW
August 21st, 2009
12:23 pm
Understand this, Jay, the whole death thing scares the beans out of the right, to the point where they are entirely irrational. Which is a bit wierd, I guess, being that they claim to have a promised seat on God’s couch when they exit.
Let’s just cut to chase with this whole deal. The reason the right is able to flaunt their ignorance has entirely to do with the security afforded them by already established programs.
So…put the public option to a referendum, and include SS and Medicare with it – make it a package. It’s often amazing how much people can learn when pressed. And if we vote it down, then consider the carnage that follows to be part of a necessary cycle of returning to a rational debate. Having allowed the right to sell their fabrication, we have taken all thoughts of rational debate off the table. One cannot rationalize the irrational…that’s why it’s called irrational
Mort Merkel
August 21st, 2009
12:25 pm
Yes, Krauthammer is reading a negative into it. That said, he is one of the more reasonable pundits in D.C. And, he stutters, yet does not let that silence him. I have a great affinity for stutterers. It is a disability like no other. People actually get ticked off and yell at stutterers. Seen it many times. And, there are no protections for them, no campaigns to act accomodatingly toward them. In fact, the organization that purports to stick up for them does not decry mistreatment of stutterers, it claims its only purpose is to help them stutter less. Nice.
George American
August 21st, 2009
12:25 pm
YOU HAD ME AT “She’s a remarkable political talent.”
PALLIN/CHENEY 2012
Mort Merkel
August 21st, 2009
12:29 pm
Us vs. them mentality leads to some sickening sights … the hero’s welcome for the Lockerbie murderer, the cheers for the Brentwood murderer’s acquital, idiots claiming there are death panels in the health reform legislation. Sad.
Doggone/GA
August 21st, 2009
12:29 pm
“remarkable”
I do not think that word means what you think it means.
Doggone/GA
August 21st, 2009
12:31 pm
“I have a great affinity for stutterers”
Have you ever heard James Earl Jones when he isn’t acting? He has an almost disabling stutter. So whenever you hear him speaking without it, whether in an acting part or an interview…he is in “acting mode” to override his natural stutter.
md
August 21st, 2009
12:34 pm
It probably has more to do with “unintended consequences”, vs words as written. Our good ole gov’t is real good at creating these.
I am one of the many that recently received a notice from my credit card company informing me of rate increases. Never missed a payment if I had a balance, fico score in the excellent category, overall one of their “good” customers.
Unintended consequences of good ole uncle sugar.
Kamchak
August 21st, 2009
12:36 pm
She’s a remarkable political talent.
The only thing “remarkable” about her “political talent” is that she has handed a bumper-sticker slogan to her next opponent in the Republican primary. By leaving her elected position and returning to private life before her term has ended, Ms. Palin will be referred to as a cut-and-runner.
Mrs. Godzilla
August 21st, 2009
12:37 pm
Think Charlie might have some stock in United Healthcare? Promina? Kaiser? Blue Cross?
Taxpayer
August 21st, 2009
12:38 pm
Perhaps this matter could be cleared up once and for all if a long form, specifying precisely the information to be conveyed by the doctor to the patient, were introduced as an Appendix.
RollerGirl
August 21st, 2009
12:39 pm
Obama is on vacation..I await the libs trashing his vacation like they did Bush when he went to crawford..according to obama, all issues are crisis’ and he has the audacity to take a vacation amid these multiple crisis’?..tisk…
For obama traveling music may i suggest ring of fire by J. Cash?
Obama healthscare is a burning ring of fire
His polls go down , down, down, and the anger flames go higher
Mrs. Godzilla
August 21st, 2009
12:39 pm
md
now I guess you can say “I got Mine”…..
md
August 21st, 2009
12:40 pm
“Think Charlie might have some stock in United Healthcare? Promina? Kaiser? Blue Cross?”
Might we all?
RollerGirl
August 21st, 2009
12:40 pm
Obama to Rahm on his management of healthcare reform….
“Heckuva job, Rahmy!”
FrankLeeDarling
August 21st, 2009
12:40 pm
“the fantastic new million-dollar high-tech gizmo that can prolong the patient’s otherwise hopeless condition for another six months.”
like this.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/30/AR2009073004285.html?sub=AR
md
August 21st, 2009
12:42 pm
“md
now I guess you can say “I got Mine”…..”
Yes I did, another hosing from the gov’t you folks seem to love so much.
Dr. Gost Lee Figure
August 21st, 2009
12:43 pm
Like essentially all doctors and as Krauthammer implies, I got into the doctoring biz strictly for the cash.
That’s why all med-stu’s throw that GP practice garbage in the trash and go into plastic surgery. No doctor really cares about healing people. They only want the cash – and no government cash either! Only rich people’s cash.
Krauthammer has in right. I can’t wait for health care reform. So, I can ditch my plastic surgery private practice and go into the big bucks – PALLIATIVE CARE!
I can’t wait to get my 1st bonus for telling a emaciated terminally-ill kid that “sorry, end of the road, tough guy! That’s the way it is.” Now, where’s my check?
Taxpayer
August 21st, 2009
12:44 pm
Well, if you must know the whole story, then go to the source. That’s what Jon did.
Kamchak
August 21st, 2009
12:44 pm
Mrs. Godzilla
If Chuckie has any mutual fund, I think it is highly likely that he has some stock ownersship in any of the related companies in the health care reform debate. I’m more interested about direct cash payments that have bought his opinion.
Doggone/GA
August 21st, 2009
12:44 pm
“Ms. Palin will be referred to as a cut-and-runner”
right idea, wrong bumper sticker. It’ll be shorter than that: Palin = QUITTER
joe matarotz
August 21st, 2009
12:45 pm
Why is it that a bright and well-spoken President, who truly believes this is the best thing for our nation, cannot go on the air and clearly explain it?
A. He doesn’t understand it.
B. He thinks we can’t understand it.
C. It really is not a good plan.
D. Fill in your own reason________________________________.
Giving credit where it’s due: Jay, compared to Cynthia Tucker, you are a shining star. (No wonder the ajc is tanking.)
Gale
August 21st, 2009
12:46 pm
“She’s a remarkable political talent.” Maybe so, but I sure don’t want her “leading” the country or talking to foreign leaders. In the same vane, Obama is a remarkable political talent. He is a lot smarter, but I didn’t want him leading the country either. That said, I want his team to succeed because failure hurts us all.
On topic, I think end of life counseling is a good plan and should not be seen as nefarious. Elders are understandable worried about things. They should be aided by someone who can provide rational, calm assistance for understanding the options. But mandetory… Don’t know about that.
Credit card companies. Yep, my rate was increased. It just gives me incentive to return to my “freeloader” status. You know, one of those folks with sterling credit who pays the balance in total every month. No balance, no interest.
Taxpayer
August 21st, 2009
12:47 pm
Yes I did, another hosing from the gov’t you folks seem to love so much.
A government issued credit card! Is it printed in Chinese.
N-GA
August 21st, 2009
12:48 pm
When my father fell, he was taken by ambulance to Fannin (County) Hospital emergency. The short story is that he was put on a ventilator and had tubes going down his throat. Fortunately he was not conscious. Unfortunately all this occurred in spite of the fact that he has a “living will” stating he wanted nothing done to prolong his suffering. The personnel at the hospital insisted on doing everything unless they had a certified copy of the will, or he could tell them to stop.
So it is all really B.S. We transported him to a larger hospital and the neurosurgeon told us we needed to let him go. At the risk of irritating those in the medical profession whose primary motivation is healing the sick, there are some (MD’s, hospitals, pharma’s, etc.) who love to prolong life because it is all billable. Watch how quickly some of them discharge patients, or transfer them to other facilities, when they find out that there is no insurer or money to pay for the services.
md
August 21st, 2009
12:49 pm
“Yes I did, another hosing from the gov’t you folks seem to love so much.
A government issued credit card! Is it printed in Chinese.”
Ha Ha, he made a funny.
Brad Steel
August 21st, 2009
12:52 pm
Sarah didn’t quit. She’s transferring.
Just like when she transferred from the rigorous and highly competitive Hawaii Pacific University to North Idaho College, a two-year school in Coeur d’Alene, where she was the editor of NIC’s equivalent of the Harvard Law Review.
DebbieDoRight
August 21st, 2009
12:53 pm
md: am one of the many that recently received a notice from my credit card company informing me of rate increases. Never missed a payment if I had a balance, fico score in the excellent category, overall one of their “good” customers.
Oh come on md!!! Would you rather NOT know that your rate was increasing and just got a “so there” on your statement?
Rollergirl: Obama can go on vacation, just like you can. Bush stayed on PERMANENT vacation — he was only in the office a grand total of 12 months out of 8 years at the helm.
Taxpayer: Perhaps this matter could be cleared up once and for all if a long form, specifying precisely the information to be conveyed by the doctor to the patient, were introduced as an Appendix
My guess would be NO. Some sort of way, somehow, an alarmist would find something wrong on the form even it had Jesus written all over it and was wrapped in the US flag.
Doggone/GA
August 21st, 2009
12:53 pm
“cannot go on the air and clearly explain it?”
It hasn’t been completely written yet. “Obamacare” is just as false as all the other falsehoods perpetrated about this issue. CONGRESS is writing the bills…and the House and Senate have different versions, which will have to go through a reconciliation process…be voted on again by both houses, AND have to PASS to go to Obama to sign (or not)
All he can do at this point, is try to guide the process by stating what he would like to see, or not see, in the final bill. Once it’s PASSED AND SIGNED, then the explanations can begin.
jconservative
August 21st, 2009
12:54 pm
I agree with Krauthammer completely – ask Sarah Palin to leave the room.
What? Oh yeah, I forgot. She already left the room!
Whose is the Governor up there now? Anybody know the name?
Mrs. Godzilla
August 21st, 2009
12:54 pm
—>md
August 21st, 2009
12:42 pm
“md
now I guess you can say “I got Mine”…..”
Yes I did, another hosing from the gov’t you folks seem to love so much<—–
Does this mean md that you hate our government? Only the last 6 months worth or always?
There’s a fabulous ex-pat community in Hong Kong…..Try the restaurant on the top of Victoria peak, there are GA car tags on the wall for a touch of home.
Delta is ready when you are….just don’t bring a guitar.
md
August 21st, 2009
12:54 pm
If our md’s were all operating on heart and compassion, then the reality of the saying “treat um and street um” would not apply, yet this saying was conveyed to me by a healthcare worker in a hospital.
I also have some good bottom land for sale along the ga coast more than likely not prone to flooding. Ha.
George American
August 21st, 2009
12:55 pm
OBAMA MADE MY CREDIT CARD INTEREST RATE GO UP TOO!!!
THANKS, MR. HOPEANDDERANGED.COM. I HOPE HE CAN FIX HIS CREDIT CARD SCREW UP!!!
Joey
August 21st, 2009
12:56 pm
Yesterday President Obama said something like: And after the Republicans chose their candidate for Vice President all the news was about her.
He did not have the integrity to say: The assault by the News Media on Sarah Palin took a lot of attention away from me. But it turn out good for me because they almost, almost destroyed her.
George American
August 21st, 2009
12:58 pm
YOU BED-WETTING LIBS ARE SO SCARED OF PALIN.
WHAT IS IT? HER FAITH IN GOD?
YEAH, IT SURE WOULD BE AWEFUL TO HAVE THIS GREAT COUNTRY RUN BY AN ACTUAL CHRISTIAN. THEN YOU COULD REALLY HAVE A REASON TO HATE HER!!!
Captain Underpants
August 21st, 2009
12:59 pm
Ruh Roh George…The Repo-Man is in the parking lot!
md
August 21st, 2009
1:01 pm
“Oh come on md!!! Would you rather NOT know that your rate was increasing and just got a “so there” on your statement? ”
The credit card companies admittedly are doing it only because of the new legislation. Good ole unintended consequences screwing the masses.
Mrs. Godzilla
August 21st, 2009
1:02 pm
“”"The credit card companies admittedly are doing it only because of the new legislation.”"”
Please link to that admission.
Mrs. Godzilla
August 21st, 2009
1:03 pm
bed wetting libs……there’s your sign!
Doggone/GA
August 21st, 2009
1:04 pm
“Ruh Roh George”
but his Engrish is getting better!
George American
August 21st, 2009
1:05 pm
MAKE THAT:
PANTS-WETTING LIBS!!!
md
August 21st, 2009
1:06 pm
“Delta is ready when you are….”
That one is so old, got any new material.
And please try to keep up, the 2 corrupt parties have been screwing this country for a whole lot longer than 6 months. They both need to slink back into the holes from which they came.
Turd Ferguson
August 21st, 2009
1:07 pm
Some new Credit card rules.
The Card Co must provide more than they did prior for a rate increase. Customer may reject, in writing, said increase. Credit Card company may then accept customer rejection and leave rate as is. Credit Card company may then cancel customers card, leave rate as is.
At such time, the credit card company will limit the payoff of affected card to 5 years and may increase minimum payments at will.
Credit card companies now can charge an annual charge for doing business with them.
Look for annual charges to certainly increase.
Look for many customers to reject interest rate increase.
Look for Credit card companies to cancel card and increase minimum payments due.
Look for those in the above situation to have there rating to drop dramatically. (When your card is canceled your limit is decreased, hence, your debt ratio will increase. Any ratio above 30% is bad news.)
You may thank Obobo for this terrbily thought out plan.
Thanks for playing…too bad, so sad, alrighty then, bye bye now!
AmVet
August 21st, 2009
1:07 pm
The Party of NO is still incapable of figuring out a coherent message and strategy.
Essentially there are two prongs to their attack:
1) Be against everything non neo-con originated.
2) Be VERY afraid of everything and everyone besides fellow neo-cons.
This winning strategy has brought them a 94% electoral failure rate.
And until the old feckless fools, like Chambliss, Gingrich and McConnell, and the other out-dated and out-manned reactionaries like Limbaugh and Savage that run their non-think tanks,die off, there is NO hope they are going to get to the point of relevance again.
As evidenced by the fact that outside of the Moron Belt and Clodhopperville, they are as under represented as UGA Young Republicans in the US military…
Tom
August 21st, 2009
1:07 pm
Gotta just love Charlie. He looks just like, well, what he is.
Jackie
August 21st, 2009
1:08 pm
Krauthammer has a living will but appears to be saying it may be a mistake for others to contemplate such an action, especially those that are not economically well-to-do.
How could anyone have any confidence in what Dr. Krauthammer has to say when he appears to be in violation of his Hippocratic oath?
Such hypocrisy. Typical so-called conservatives to conflate, obfuscate, extrapolate.
Mrs. Godzilla
August 21st, 2009
1:10 pm
md
some oldies are real goodies….
and the whole delta and guitar thing is new…
evasive….
did you find the link to that admission by the cerdit card companies yet?
md
August 21st, 2009
1:14 pm
“””The credit card companies admittedly are doing it only because of the new legislation.”””
“Please link to that admission.”
My pleasure:
“Amex spokeswoman Desiree Fish acknowledged the regulations played a part in recent rate and fee hikes. “The reason why we did it is to be responsive to the business and economic environment, which obviously included the recent regulatory changes,” she said.”
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jFSaTEsa1OQkR-u3KaYOw94tWwfgD9A66T480
md
August 21st, 2009
1:17 pm
“and the whole delta and guitar thing is new…”
Yea, considering it was United that trashed the guys guitar.
Bosch
August 21st, 2009
1:17 pm
md,
So? The credit card companies are raising their rates? Big deal. Don’t use ‘em.
Bosch
August 21st, 2009
1:18 pm
md,
And I’m sure that the fact millions have gone bankrupt on the credit card companies has nothing to do with their rates rising.
Yeah, that’s a copy out – everybody’s blaminig Obama.