Krauthammer Wants Honest Debate
Charles Krauthammer just keeps making sense: Honest Debate Needed on End-of-Life Talk.
Let’s see if we can have a reasoned discussion about end-of-life counseling. [Good luck with that. – ed.]
We might start by asking Sarah Palin to leave the room. I’ve got nothing against her. She’s a remarkable political talent. But there are no “death panels” in the Democratic health-care bills, and to say that there are is to debase the debate.
We also have to tell the defenders of the notorious Section 1233 of H.R. 3200 that it is not quite as benign as they pretend. To offer government reimbursement to any doctor who gives end-of-life counseling — whether or not the patient asked for it — is to create an incentive for such a chat.
Of course, “creating a subtle incentive for end of life counseling” doesn’t have quite the same red meat ring as “death panels” — and Krauthammer’s more reasoned style of criticism probably wouldn’t have resulted in the empty “victory” for the GOP of getting the entire section about end of life counseling removed. Is the health care bill improved by tossing out end of life counseling altogether? Who cares! It’s a “victory!”
Frank says: