Death Paneling Living Wills

On August 23, 2009, Fox New Sunday ran the following spin bit.



I feel it was disingenuous for FNS to cite "Your Life, Your Choices", as an Obama Administration problem when it was a document produced, distributed, and adopted under the Bush Administration. The document serves as a bad workbook example for end-of-life options and for drafting living will documents.

Granted, all the right winged false spin regarding proposed death panels within health care reform bills, still under negotiation, have virtually killed (at least in the Senate) any hope to have "voluntary end of life counseling". By spinning this story last Sunday, FNS tried to make a link where one doesn't really exists. Tricky, Fox!

However, end-of-life counseling is important. These sensitive discussions among family and friends are most fruitful when folks are healthy and well, not when elderly are knocking on heaven's door and it's simply a second past too late. 1 out of 4 elderly above the age of 65 end their life prematurely. These same individuals visited their doctor's at least 30 days before completion. A counseling session at that time could have raised warning signs for family members and care takers. At the end of the day, those who will suffer most for the proverbial pulling of the plug on the counseling option are those least able to afford it.

With all that said, an interesting point arises regarding our own choices on end of life matters. There seems to be a thin line between suicide and dying with dignity under certain debilitating conditions. Robert Pearlman, author of "Your Life, Your Choices," seems to be straddling that line. What I find is that the pamphlet could use better question structure and word choices. Also, with additional adjustments, it could serve as great indicator for mental health flags. Maybe it was this discussion that allowed for a much needed segue to analyzing suicide rate of soldiers coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Another interesting point that the pamphlet brings to light is the inquiry of your church's stand on suicide, but that's for another blog entry.

The Afterw@rd