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Monday, September 21, 2009

AMENDMENTS SEEK TO INTRODUCE END OF LIFE PROVISIONS

564 amendments have been released by members of the Senate Finance Committee. They are grouped by topic: financing, coverage expansion and delivery system reform. You can find them at http://www.finance.senate.gov/sitepages/legislation.htm.

As expected, Sen. Rockefeller has sought to reincorporate many of the controversial end of life provisions relating to Advance Directives 207,208,210 (Rockefeller C27, C28, C30). National Right to Life strongly encourages the execution of a pro-life advance directive, the Will to Live (See http://www.nrlc.org/MedEthics/WilltoLiveProject.html). However, the pro-life fear is that efforts to push patients and prospective patients to prepare advance directives may in practice become a means of persuading or pressuring them to agree to less treatment as a means of saving money. This much is even admitted by the amendment as it is predicted to save money.

This batch of amendments is one among several of concern. Also, several key anti-rationing amendments have also been introduced. Check back in for more information before the Senate Finance Committee mark-up begins tomorrow morning.



1 comment:

  1. However, the pro-life fear is that efforts to push patients and prospective patients to prepare advance directives may in practice become a means of persuading or pressuring them to agree to less treatment as a means of saving money. This much is even admitted by the amendment as it is predicted to save money.

    That's just crazy talk. You're freaking crazy.

    ReplyDelete