Rationing, healthcare and quality of life
We all know private American insurers already ration healthcare, and that few Repubilcans, certainly not among those in Congress, will admit it.
But, in any sort of public healthcare, there will have to be rationing, too. GOP poster people from Britain and Canada aside, it happens.
Well, HOW does it happen? On what basis do we make these decisions?
Writing what every Republican should read and no Democrat will likely broach, renowned and provocative bioethicist Peter Singer has delved deeply into quality-of-life issues and related matters in a long piece from the New York Times.
In part from having taught a college class on the psychology of death and dying, I have some additional reflections on the subject.
But, in any sort of public healthcare, there will have to be rationing, too. GOP poster people from Britain and Canada aside, it happens.
Well, HOW does it happen? On what basis do we make these decisions?
Writing what every Republican should read and no Democrat will likely broach, renowned and provocative bioethicist Peter Singer has delved deeply into quality-of-life issues and related matters in a long piece from the New York Times.
In part from having taught a college class on the psychology of death and dying, I have some additional reflections on the subject.
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We're already rationed (on and off the books, denials that shouldn't have been denied, forcing resubmissions, etc. ) by shitty insurance companies that don't want to cover us, how can this be worse? Answer: it won't be. Should any insurance company pay for your tummy-tuck, liposuction, face-lift? Hell, no! Should they pay for your replacement hip, hell yes!
Should the government pay for major corrective surgery on people in their nineties that are near death anyway? No, not unless it's the result of an accident.
July 16, 2009 10:45 AM | Reply | Permalink