There are the birthers and now there are the deathers

[Brentwood]

There are the birthers and now there are the deathers. The repubs are saying, the dem's are going to pull the plug on older Americans healthcare to make them die earlier to stop their drain on America. This is getting ridiculous! What kind of people believe this stuff.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/29/a-euthanasia-mandate/?feat=home_editorials

[Circe]

The kind of decisions that the article talks about are made every day........whether or not to continue treatments that are clearly doing nothing, but unless the story happens to get into the news, we never hear about it.

A little over three years ago, my family made the same kind of decision about my mother. We could have left her in the hospital, and continued treatments that would have done nothing but cost thousands of dollars and make my mother suffer. Instead, we took her home, and with the help of hospice, took care of her until she died, peacefully in her own bed as she wanted. Despite the fear mongering of the right, I see nothing wrong with people knowing what their options are, and reviewing those options every five years, or more often if the situation changes.

[ExArkie]

The kind of decisions that the article talks about are made every day........whether or not to continue treatments that are clearly doing nothing, but unless the story happens to get into the news, we never hear about it.

A little over three years ago, my family made the same kind of decision about my mother. We could have left her in the hospital, and continued treatments that would have done nothing but cost thousands of dollars and make my mother suffer. Instead, we took her home, and with the help of hospice, took care of her until she died, peacefully in her own bed as she wanted. Despite the fear mongering of the right, I see nothing wrong with people knowing what their options are, and reviewing those options every five years, or more often if the situation changes.

This is almost exactly what happened with my husband eight years ago. I took him home and took care of him for his remaining 6-7 months - with help from the blessed Hospice nurses - Angels DO walk among us, by the way!!

[Circe]

This is almost exactly what happened with my husband eight years ago. I took him home and took care of him for his remaining 6-7 months - with help from the blessed Hospice nurses - Angels DO walk among us, by the way!!

They are positively the best!! If we needed something for Mom, we called, and they made it happen, with no hassels for us. They dealt with everything from paperwork to calling the doctor for meds. They are angels as far as I'm concerned.

[A-hem_1]

I think everyone should have a living will and advance directive in place. Accidents and illness can happen to anyone at any age. Some people don't have family to look after their best interest.