Political Quotes

“Our colleague, Jim McDermott, sent each of us a letter with a Time magazine cover article by Joe Klein entitled ``How to Die.'' This article is jarring to many because it's an issue that most would rather not confront. As a result, there's a great deal of unnecessary pain, confusion, and suffering. It masks one of the most important issues in health care, which, despite the manufactured controversy over ``death panels,'' is a rare, sweet spot in the health care debate. It can improve the quality of life, in some cases the length of life, and most importantly we can help people understand their circumstances and get the care that they want. If this happens, the cost of health care will go down even as satisfaction and quality goes up. For most Americans, the protocols followed by almost every hospital and practitioner will be to give the maximum amount of the most aggressive care in end-of-life situations. Especially if patients have the money or insurance, they will be hooked up in their final stages of life to be resuscitated, their ribs cracked, and hearts massaged. There will be tubes inserted, chemicals pumped, and defibrillators will shock people, even if they have no awareness of what's going on, other than that they are being tortured. When people are given the information, resources, and choices, the outcomes are much different. A telling story in The Wall Street Journal last February pointed out how doctors die differently.…”