HEALTH CARE #1

Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest and I used it to read all three newspapers. Both the Star-Ledger of the Times devoted large portions of the Op Ed pages to discuss the health care reform legislation. If you are interested do read them,both the Editorials and Op Ed pages in both. The Times articles are spread over several pages in its "Week in Review" section as well as news sections. Don't ignore the letters. Now on to my opinion.

Justifiably the criticism of late has been a result of the President's waffling on his stance over the public option and concerns about the care for the elderly . Despite the President's repeated affirmation that for the elderly there would be no rationing of care , the language in the bills and the words of the Speaker of the House seem to promote the concept of savings at the expense of the elderly. Indeed Obama is trying to be the consummate politician by reassuring and agreeing with both polarized parties. That can be fatal for the reformation in the long run, and also for his Presidency.

There are several Op Ed, articles, including one in the New York Times on August 17 by Richard Dooling, that criticize the degree of extensive care given to senior citizens. These writers advocate that the money saved there could better be used in treating the young. Somehow, he and other social planners find little value in old age. This is reminiscence of many Science Fiction stories of the past in which societies eliminatyed the elderly as they became a dredge on resources. Can truth be the same as fiction?

As a very soon to be a nonagenarian, I for one resent being considered useless and not worth receiving hospital care of any major substance because of age. I am not advocating that prolong care be given when recovery with any acceptable quality of life is not present.

I agree that great deals of resources are wasted. When it is time to die that is one thing, but to be denying individuals with a good quality of life and continued productivity the right to live is another.

It is true that many of the patients who are on life support systems are so because relatives insist. To do otherwise or to deny that request has been the basis of most lawsuits, therefore Hospitals discourages the removal of life support.

The choice of life should be a personal decision. While it is true that a comatose or incoherent individual can’t make a decision at that point the mechanism exists for their wishes to be followed. All the elderly should execute a living will and also designate a person to act for them if they were incapacitated.

Whether the Bill the Presidents signs will clarify this issue waits to be seen. As I have written earlier I expect that there will be some kind of legislation enacted this year, after the return of Congress. To get it done the President will have to make compromises. None will satisfy powerful groups and it will be difficult to prevent the ultimate bill from being emasculated.

This will be the first of several posts before Labor Day on the Health Care Reform including the "Public Option", Medicare, and where economies can come from. Don't hold your breath.