Death Panels Exist!

[zeos3]

From the testimony of Dr. Linda Peeno:

http://www.thenationalcoalition.org/DrPeenotestimony.html


"I wish to begin by making a public confession: In the spring of 1987, as a physician, I caused the death of a man.

Although this was known to many people, I have not been taken before any court of law or called to account for this in any professional or public forum. In fact, just the opposite occurred: I was "rewarded" for this. It bought me an improved reputation in my job, and contributed to my advancement afterwards. Not only did I demonstrate I could indeed do what was expected of me, I exemplified the "good" company doctor: I saved a half million dollars!"


"The man died because I denied him a necessary operation to save his heart. I felt little pain or remorse at the time. The man's faceless distance soothed my conscience. Like a skilled soldier, I was trained for this moment. When any moral qualms arose, I was to remember: I am not denying care; I am only denying payment. "


"I am the evidence that managed care is inherently unethical, in the areas of both medicine and business. Had my experiences been the result of merely local aberrations, I would not have had anything to do for the past six years. On the contrary, I discovered that my experiences are standard practice and quite ordinary for the managed care business."


"I contend that managed care, as it has become, can exist only through serious ethical transgressions against individuals and society. Furthermore, I contend that a health plan's resistance to ethical correctives is proportionate to its reliance on ethical transgressions for its "success." "

[titoresque]

1. of course they exist

the insurance companies decide every day who they will treat/let die. Remember the people after Katrina who were being toe-tagged while they were still alive?

[zeos3]

11. I didn't know about the toe-tagging

but these death panels have been around for a long time already.

[frebrd]

2. K&R!

[progressivebydesign]

3. My Mom was tossed out of a hospital while still very sick and heavily medicated...

.. because the "hospitalist" (fancy name for doctor who makes financial decisions) determined that her insurance would not pay beyond that day. Hooked up to oxygen, heavily sedated, one day.. told to leave the next morning. When money comes into health care, evil things transpire.

[zeos3]

7. I'm sorry to hear stories like that

I hope she was able to recover.

I wonder what the town hall crazies would have to say about your mom's freedom of choice in this situation or about the corporate bureaucrats standing in the way of her health care in this situation.

[progressivebydesign]

4. Please K&R folks.. this should be on the front page! n/t

[Uncle Joe]

5. Why does the corporate media not cover death panels on for profit "health" insurance corporations

and when I say cover, I mean with a serious, relentless expose?

Would those angry crowds at the town halls have been so angry or afraid of guaranteed government universal health coverage from the cradle to the grave if they knew about for profit health insurance corporations actual real life existing "death panels"?

I don't think so, this real story has been practically swept under the rug.

Thanks for the thread, zeo.

[zeos3]

6. You've said it all

If you just do a search on Dr Peeno, you'll see she's been talking about this since 1996. Why isn't this common knowledge? Michael Moore's "Sicko" featured a portion of her testimony. She's been on Democracy Now. I think there was a movie based on her called "Damaged Care." Etc...

The angry crowds are focusing their anger in the wrong direction. Everything they yell that they don't want in health care reform already exists in the current system.

[lsewpershad]

8. Rec

This should sent to Faux News, Palin and all those "sick" senators who are putting stumbling blocks on the health care bill and a strong public option.

[zbdent]

9. With George W. Bush's signature ...

[zeos3]

10. It's been going on longer than that

You could look all the way back to Nixon and the advent of HMOs

[zbdent]

12. True, but you actually have the "Party of Life" messiah George W. Bush

actually enacting the law with the Texas and National "Right to Life" groups' blessing on his signature like oil on Rev. Moon's scalp ...

[zeos3]

13. Ha, nice

I'm not sure which law you're referring to but, in more recent interviews, Dr. Peeno has said that things have only gotten worse since she gave her testimony in 1996.

The "Party of Life" stuff makes me want to vomit. I remember watching Joe Scarborough (SP?) one morning saying he'd like to insure everyone but not if it cost too much. Apparently he shops for his morality at the thrift store or Walmart. The high cost of low morals, indeed.

[zbdent]

15. check it out ...

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6298928

[zeos3]

17. Holy Shit!

Thanks for the link. Let's expose this Obamacare death panel bullshit for the lie that it is. This is an opportunity for us to use one of their talking points against them.

[Quantess]

14. Wow. K & R

[crazy_vanilla]

16. yes, ain't that the truth ....

serious ethical transgressions .... may all who have been killed by the insurance companies rest in peace

[zeos3]

18. Amen

Check out the link in post #15 for more on existing death panels. Let's shed some light on this topic.