Janice wrote:Before you die, what new law do you think will go into effect. What big change in our government and freedoms.
Before I die, sadly, the terminally ill, esp. elderly terminally ill will be legally "put to sleep"...by euthansia without their permission.
I've already seen the forerunners of this sinister "cost cutting" legislation infringing upon the rights of dying elderly members in my own family. In 1999 and 2000, medicare tried to stop blood transfusions being given to my terminally ill great aunt, stating those units were needed for "younger, healthier" men and women.
Even though she had worked her rear off for over 40 yrs in a sewing plant, paying taxes, and donating hew own blood with regularity to Red Cross...she wasn't deemed "worthy" to recieve life sustaining transfusions (which always perked her up, even until the week before she died).
Just late today, medicare ordered my great aunt Millie's doctor to discharge her ASAP...to a hospice, home, or a nursing home; to do so on a holiday weekend without me getting any prior notice. I finally convinced the doctor to wait until tomorrow (since Granny was pitching a fit); but I wanted aunt Millie to be kept at Wellstar Douglas hospital until after the 4th....especially since my grandmother's 92nd birthday is on Monday/ Independence Day.
Medicare doesn't give a darn about my grandmother's feelings, nor my great aunt. All they know is medicare number 2##-##-#### is dying, now in a coma, has no hope of recovery, and since she can't get better, has to die in a strange hospital instead of familiar surroundings....not because of overcrowding, but because "Wellstar Cobb Hospital" is the "official" hospice waiting list provider in this area.
Maybe this isn't a big deal to you, but try explaining to a stressed and confused little 92 yr old woman (Granny) why her younger sister will be the ONLY member of her family since 1974 to die anywhere else except Douglas hospital
(and I honestly don't believe aunt Millie will live until Tuesday, regardless of where she is...her breathing is becoming increasingly shallow this evening; IMO the 14 mile ride from Wellstar Douglas to Wellstar Cobb hospital inside a private ambulance tomorrow will end her life
The sick and elderly are already being disrespected....IMO they are already seen as "expendable" and "not worthy" of spending taxpayer money on (I saw several vivid examples of this being done to patients while aunt Millie was in the nursing home last month). It's IMO only a matter of time until euthansia becomes as common as hospice or abortion is today
PW