I think I understand now why Sarah Palin flew back to Alaska in labor

[jmowreader]

Said Caribou Barbie in her now-infamous "policy statement," the America she knows isn't one where a death panel can decide the fate of young Trig.

I wonder if she knew, when her water broke during that long-ago governors' meeting, that this is exactly the America that exists in Texas. Where, thanks to the governor who later was appointed president, death panels await to unplug those they deem unworthy of life. Of course, she couldn't mention that in her statement because a Republican enacted it and, after all, Republicans aren't evil the way death panels are--even when Republicans create them.

[crazylikafox]

1. no way. She's not smart enough to know what the Texas policy was.

She would have had to read something to know that.

[jmowreader]

3. She delegated that duty to someone else

So check it out: Sarah's sitting in the governors' conference when her water breaks. She excuses herself, goes to a quiet office somewhere and calls her secretary. We'll say her secretary's name is Julie.

"Hi, Julie? This is Sarah. Look, I think I'm going to have to stay in Texas a few days longer. Yeah, my water broke and I better get to the hospital."
'Sarah! Don't go to the hospital in Texas! Don't you know what can happen there?'
"Uhh...I can have the baby?"
'Oh God, Sarah...don't you know they can put him to sleep like a sick dog? Yeah, they have these boards in hospitals down there that are allowed to kill people if they don't think they're good enough.'
"Really?"
'Yeah. Get out of there NOW!'
"Oh thanks. I'll see you tomorrow, then."

The scary part is, Sarah Palin is stupid enough to believe that.

[carpetbagger]

2. The death panels only act if you don't have insurance.

That is the Texan way.

[jmowreader]

4. No, they can act in cases where you have insurance too

The law is SB 1260, the Texas Futile Care Law. It says that if a doctor decides you're better off dead, they notify the family that the hospital's ethics committee will meet in two days to decide the fate of their loved one. After the board decides to whack grandma, you have ten days to find a different hospital. If she's still in that hospital after the ten days are up, she's a goner.

They probably DO act mainly in cases where the patient has no insurance, but they don't have to limit themselves thusly--they could whack Ted Kennedy if he was in a Texas hospital, and he's not only covered under the Senate plan, he has enough money to pay for his own care.

[carpetbagger]

5. Ah, but that's the rub.

You can always find a hospital to treat grandma if she's got the right gift card in her wallet. You might have to go to McAllen, but you'll find one for sure.

[barbtries]

6. actually that probably works just as well or better

for insurers. protects their bottom line and they don't have to be the bad guy "it's the law"

[seabeyond]

7. good point. clarification: she started leaking 4 am and called alaska doctor. much longer

than just her luncheon.

this story just made me sick way back when. it really, bottom line, says somethng about this woman

and i am sure she was clueless about texas laws.

[Missy Vixen]

10. I know you have children

I don't. Obviously, I'm going to have to get some of the moms to chime in here.

Is there ANYONE who would board a plane, in labor at 44 years of age, the sac is broken, you know it's going to take at least eight hours to get home? What would she have done if her labor accelerated mid-flight?

I'm guessing there isn't a woman here that would board a plane under those circumstances. We won't even go into the fact it's against ALL airline regulations.

[seabeyond]

11. water broke on both kids. first time, i jumped in shower. 2 minutes. got butt chewed

out by doctor that i took the time to do that.

both kids, right into hospital immediately and hooked up

NO ONE would do that.

the thing.... started at 4 am and she didnt get to medical care until 12:30 am in her small town

a month early, down syndrome and 44 yr old woman. THREE risk factors. and she went AWAY from medical care. medical care unaccessible. it truly males no sense at all.

[Catshrink]

8. Maybe she didn't want to pay the out-of-network costs.

Glen Beck found out about those when he had to take his daughter to the ER and whined about it in his blog.

[CLANG]

9. She shouldn't even be on the national stage

Sarah Palin is WAY out of her league!