# I volunteered for our death panel today **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 29, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117 "2009-08-29T03:22:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/21 "2009-08-29T17:18:58Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I’m scrambling for some context here. Doctors in the USA are only paid for certain Medicare/Medicaid services that they perform. There is a proposal to add voluntary counselling on end-of-life issues to the list of what doctors can be paid for. [http://blumenauer.house.gov/images/stories/documents/advance%20care%20planning%20from%20tri-committee%20bill.pdf](http://blumenauer.house.gov/images/stories/documents/advance%20care%20planning%20from%20tri-committee%20bill.pdf) Palin is of the opinion that voluntary conversations between doctor and patient on issues such as living wills and making a close relative or a trusted friend a health care proxy (what you would recognize as a Power of Attorney for Personal Care), learning about hospice as an option for the terminally ill, and learning about pain medications for people suffering chronic discomfort, would be establishing death panels that decide who lives and who dies. She does present an interesting point, for although she is physically animated, she is clearly brain dead, making any counseling moot. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/22 "2009-08-29T17:48:37Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Doctors in the USA are only paid for certain Medicare/Medicaid services that they perform. There is a proposal to add voluntary counselling on end-of-life issues to the list of what doctors can be paid for. [http://blumenauer.house.gov/images/stories/documents/advance%20care%20planning%20from%20tri-committee%20bill.pdf](http://blumenauer.house.gov/images/stories/documents/advance%20care%20planning%20from%20tri-committee%20bill.pdf) > > Palin is of the opinion that voluntary conversations between doctor and patient on issues such as living wills and making a close relative or a trusted friend a health care proxy (what you would recognize as a Power of Attorney for Personal Care), learning about hospice as an option for the terminally ill, and learning about pain medications for people suffering chronic discomfort, would be establishing death panels that decide who lives and who dies. > > She does present an interesting point, for although she is physically animated, she is clearly brain dead, making any counseling moot. It is more than this, according to Palin and her deather pals. It is about making some kind of value judgement about the patients – will they be able to contribute to society if they are treated? If so, they get to live; if not they get the short bus to eternity. I am of the opinion that almost no one makes a valuable contribution to society. And as we move into the future and automation takes the place of humans in filling productive roles in the economy, even fewer people will be needed. Actually, the only really necessary people will be robot repairers and death panelists. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/23 "2009-08-29T18:03:33Z")
What Palin misses is that when it comes to end-of-life care, failing to make a decision is in fact a decision to let the powers that be decide for you, and that to make an informed decision, you need information. Her position tries to force people into remaining in ignorance and being stuck with whatever course is decided by the government. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/24 "2009-08-29T18:50:50Z")
I’m joining the cake panel. I bet people want to see me more. ---
**Author:** ![ILovCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e99b99/32.png) [@ILovCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ILovCoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/25 "2009-08-29T19:06:56Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > What Palin misses is that when it comes to end-of-life care, failing to make a decision is in fact a decision to let the powers that be decide for you, and that to make an informed decision, you need information. \*\*Her position tries to force people into remaining in ignorance and being stuck with whatever course is decided by the government. \*\*(bolding mine) At least she is consistent. Didn’t she advocate “abstinence only/ignorance” school of Sex Education? And we see where that worked all so well :rolleyes: Sarah Palin is an idiot. It is scary to me that she was governor of the state of AK, but then George II got to be Prez. It was actually even scarier to realize that he supposedly attended and graduated from an Ivy League college. That was a slight hijack, wasn’t it? :::shrugs::: ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/26 "2009-08-29T19:15:13Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I’m scrambling for some context here. Have you forgotten that Canadian-style Universal Healthcare means that doctors go out of their way to kill us on a whim? Dammit, **Sunspace!** You’re going to have to turn in your toque! ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/27 "2009-08-29T19:49:44Z")
I’m surprised at Sarah Palin and the others who decry these death panels. Don’t they know that only God decides our fate? If he decides that he needs us, he will speak through the death panel and have them withhold treatment. We only get sick because he is testing us. If we demonstrate daily that we are good Christians, he will never need to make us ill, but will take us suddenly while we sleep. All that stuff about germs and viruses is silly talk, like evolution. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/28 "2009-08-29T23:49:42Z")
Exactly! The nearest I can come to god on earth is putting people to death. Lots of them! ---
**Author:** ![bathsheba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9e8a1a/32.png) [@bathsheba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bathsheba)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/29 "2009-08-29T23:59:19Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > I’m joining the cake panel. I bet people want to see me more. You so have to have a stamp for that. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/30 "2009-08-30T00:05:01Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Of course, it’s cheaper wholesale… > > We only have to be asked. I commend you for the reference, sir. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/31 "2009-08-30T01:06:07Z")
> [@bathsheba](#): > > You so have to have a stamp for that. HOw about a stamp that says, “Brought Pie” ? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/32 "2009-08-30T03:07:41Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > HOw about a stamp that says, “Brought Pie” ? No, dummy, that’s the stamp for the _Pie_ panel. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/33 "2009-08-30T03:20:33Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > No, dummy, that’s the stamp for the _Pie_ panel. _ **FINE.** _ No pie for you! ---
**Author:** ![emcee2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emcee2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emcee2k)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/34 "2009-08-30T04:24:10Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > That stamp would be no fun. It’s also confusing; it could be construed to mean that the patient has already suffered death, or that the condition is terminal even if treated. > > Your stamp should say “KILL IMMEDIATELY” Forget the stamp, the whole point is to save money. Just use an icepick. It takes out the middleman. Especially if the middleman is who you happen to be using it on. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/35 "2009-08-30T04:59:06Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > _ **FINE.** _ No pie for you! If I were you, I would stay out of sight of the death panelists for the next few years. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/36 "2009-08-30T14:32:45Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > Doctors in the USA are only paid for certain Medicare/Medicaid services that they perform. There is a proposal to add voluntary counselling on end-of-life issues to the list of what doctors can be paid for. [http://blumenauer.house.gov/images/stories/documents/advance%20care%20planning%20from%20tri-committee%20bill.pdf](http://blumenauer.house.gov/images/stories/documents/advance%20care%20planning%20from%20tri-committee%20bill.pdf) > > Palin is of the opinion that voluntary conversations between doctor and patient on issues such as living wills and making a close relative or a trusted friend a health care proxy (what you would recognize as a Power of Attorney for Personal Care), learning about hospice as an option for the terminally ill, and learning about pain medications for people suffering chronic discomfort, would be establishing death panels that decide who lives and who dies. > > She does present an interesting point, for although she is physically animated, she is clearly brain dead, making any counseling moot. Does it seem to anyone inconsistent that many of the same people who believe that terminally ill people should not be required to have an end of life discussion with their doctor and have a living will also believe a woman should be required to go through pre-abortion counseling? Maybe I’m wrong - maybe the two groups are distinct and separate subsets. Or maybe, having been involved in what they want pre-abortion counseling to be (convince you to do it our way) they are frightened that living will counseling will have bias. Anyway, too serious a pondering for this forum. Put me on the cake panel. ---
**Author:** ![LeeshaJoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@LeeshaJoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LeeshaJoy)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/37 "2009-08-30T15:41:22Z")
> [@Alienhand](#): > > I’m more of hands-on type of guy so I’m holding out for the Death Squad. Personally, I’m more in favor of a Death **Squid.** I mean, how awesome would that be? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/38 "2009-08-30T16:10:29Z")
Will you be supplied your own holocaust cloak or do you need to run out and buy your own? I think walking the halls of a hospital in a holocaust cloak and scythe would be an AWESOME job to have! ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/39 "2009-08-30T16:17:45Z")
I think the Nursing Home Cat will be on the Death Squid like a chicken on a June bug. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117/40 "2009-08-30T16:24:54Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Actually, the only really necessary people will be robot repairers and death panelists. Repairing robots, or robots who repair? [http://www.hulu.com/watch/19190/saturday-night-live-robot-repair](http://www.hulu.com/watch/19190/saturday-night-live-robot-repair) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-volunteered-for-our-death-panel-today/508117.md?page=3)