State of Oregon Health Plan;Chemo - NO, Assisted suicide - YES!! (health care, Obama)

[OhBeeHave]

It's Monday and my mind is somewhere else.
When I read this:

A Springfield woman's doctor hoped a new chemotherapy drug would help her but the Oregon Health Plan told her the treatment was not approved. Instead, the state would pay for assisted suicide. "I'm not ready, I'm not ready to die," the Springfield woman said.

I immediately thought of:

The Dead Collector: Bring out yer dead.
[a man puts a body on the cart]
Large Man with Dead Body: Here's one.
The Dead Collector: That'll be ninepence.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not dead.
The Dead Collector: What?
Large Man with Dead Body: Nothing. There's your ninepence.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not dead.
The Dead Collector: 'Ere, he says he's not dead.
Large Man with Dead Body: Yes he is.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm not.
The Dead Collector: He isn't.
Large Man with Dead Body: Well, he will be soon, he's very ill.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I'm getting better.
Large Man with Dead Body: No you're not, you'll be stone dead in a moment.
The Dead Collector: Well, I can't take him like that. It's against regulations.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I don't want to go on the cart.
Large Man with Dead Body: Oh, don't be such a baby.
The Dead Collector: I can't take him.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I feel fine.
Large Man with Dead Body: Oh, do me a favor.
The Dead Collector: I can't.
Large Man with Dead Body: Well, can you hang around for a couple of minutes? He won't be long.
The Dead Collector: I promised I'd be at the Robinsons'. They've lost nine today.
Large Man with Dead Body: Well, when's your next round?
The Dead Collector: Thursday.
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I think I'll go for a walk.
Large Man with Dead Body: You're not fooling anyone, you know. Isn't there anything you could do?
The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: I feel happy. I feel happy.
[the Dead Collector glances up and down the street furtively, then silences the Body with his a whack of his club]
Large Man with Dead Body: Ah, thank you very much.
The Dead Collector: Not at all. See you on Thursday.
Large Man with Dead Body: Right.

[Ceece]

Originally Posted by Katiana

The second link is from "Hot air BLOG". I read the copy. I can't watch videos on my computer, and I certainly wouldn't want to watch every one posted here on CD, anyway. Yes, it really matters who is reporting a story. And what IS the point? Is the chemo this patient wants recommended for her cancer? Is it a modern day laetrile? Does the reporter even know what chemo is/does?

I was thinking the story lacked some key information too. Just because the health plan ALLOWS for assisted suicide, and DISALLOWS certain treatments (it's kind of important to know what treatment or drug is involved..) doesn't mean what the OP implies. Although it's easy to imply it.

[Marlow]

Originally Posted by sanrene

Incredible. Based solely on cost. You can be sure, the federal government would choose the latter for you as well.

Letter noting assisted suicide raises questions | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | News



Hot Air » Blog Archive » Video: Oregon says no to chemotherapy, offers assisted suicide instead

Assuming this story is true, for you to complain about this means you're a bigger liberal socialist than all the admitted lefties on C-D combined. This woman either cannot afford or doesn't qualify for private insurance, so she's getting Medicaid. Apparently her prognosis for recovery is very poor and administrators of the program do not want to spend the money when there's no indication it will help her to live longer. Now YOU want THE DREADED GOVERNMENT to pay a fortune to keep her alive.

Which is it? Do you want the government to provide unlimited health care, regardless of the cost, to everyone who wants it? Or do you think a purely private pay health care system will be better? This woman, whom you so bravely champion, clearly wants unlimited health care from the government. Which do you prefer?

[delusianne]

Originally Posted by sanrene

Well, how would YOU like the state, or federal government, telling you they won't pay for YOUR mother's, father's, aunt's, uncle's, child's Chemo treatment and instead determine that the best recourse is for YOUR relative to just ...... die.

I wouldnt like it if an insurance company told me that, either, and raised my relative's rates or canceled him/her. However, if my relative developed cancer while already on the public plan, and we were at the 5% chance to live a year point but my relative wanted to keep going, I'd pay out of pocket for however long it took, and keep getting checked at the public plan to see if we moved up to 6%.

[subsound]

There is the issue, what is the estimated cost of care? The routine of infusion chemo for 10 days could give 400 doctors visits to people, and perscription drugs for those in need. Isn't it selfish to demand tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of dollars in treatment of one person that can be used for care of hundreds of people who will not have a ~0% 1 year survival?

[plannine]

Originally Posted by sanrene

Incredible. Based solely on cost. You can be sure, the federal government would choose the latter for you as well.

Letter noting assisted suicide raises questions | KATU.com - Portland, Oregon | News



Hot Air » Blog Archive » Video: Oregon says no to chemotherapy, offers assisted suicide instead

From what I've read, the treatment would not be approved under most insurance plans. So she was out of luck either way.

[delusianne]

Originally Posted by plannine

From what I've read, the treatment would not be approved under most insurance plans. So she was out of luck either way.

You're not supposed to read THAT closely.

[plannine]

Originally Posted by delusianne

You're not supposed to read THAT closely.

Since that 'news' is over a year old, how did they bring her back for the interview?
That some plan.

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by sanrene

Well, how would YOU like the state, or federal government, telling you they won't pay for YOUR mother's, father's, aunt's, uncle's, child's Chemo treatment and instead determine that the best recourse is for YOUR relative to just ...... die.

Insurance companies won't pay for non-approved or experimental treatments, either.

And what the state said is that they would pay for "comfort care" which is HOSPICE.

[Ceece]

Originally Posted by PNW-type-gal

Insurance companies won't pay for non-approved or experimental treatments, either.

And what the state said is that they would pay for "comfort care" which is HOSPICE.

Hospice is wonderful.