Sarah Palin Doubles Down - On 'Death Panels'

by Andy Barr - August 13th, 2009 - Politico

Former Alaska GOP Gov. Sarah Palin defended her claim that the Democratic health care proposal would create “death panels” in a statement Wednesday night slamming President Barack Obama.

“Yesterday President Obama responded to my statement that Democratic health care proposals would lead to rationed care; that the sick, the elderly, and the disabled would suffer the most under such rationing; and that under such a system these ‘unproductive’ members of society could face the prospect of government bureaucrats determining whether they deserve health care,” Palin wrote in a note on her Facebook page.

“The provision that President Obama refers to is Section 1233 of HR 3200, entitled ‘Advance Care Planning Consultation.’ With all due respect, it’s misleading for the president to describe this section as an entirely voluntary provision that simply increases the information offered to Medicare recipients,” she continued.

What she wrote is a very intelligent analysis of the actual wording of HR3200. That wording supports her contention that these panels are intended to compel doctors and patients to avoid life saving treatments that cost a great deal in the late years of their life, or if they are disabled. They are not voluntary. The proponents are not trying to assure the elderly understand their options. The provisions are intended to "reduce costs". They intend to discourage seeking the best care for those who the bureacrats deem fail to meet a sufficient ‘level of productivity in society’ to deserve tax payer money.

To trust a bureacrat with that decision is to sign your death warrant if you are elderly, disabled or a registered Republican.