The Death Panels Are Real

As living, breathing human beings, we're pretty averse to death. In fact, just last weekend on a shopping trip, I overheard a father tell his son, "Robbie, you've got to stop talking about dying." Of course, I heard that out of context, but I'm guessing the kid said something about death out of curiosity as children are wont to do. The message was loud and clear: morbid topics are not socially acceptable.

In light of that, it's little wonder that people are so up in arms over the notion of government death panels. While they don't exist, the mere idea that some objective third party would make decisions about who lives and who dies is enough to scare most people, and that fear turns quite readily into anger as soon as people are able to put a face on it, no matter how unwarranted that might be. The right understands this psychology and uses it effectively to win political support. Progressives need to follow suit. The difference? Conservatives are referring to death panels that don't exist and will not be created by health reform. Progressives could be--but currently aren't--referring to death panels that actually do exist and that will remain active unless we pass health reform.

What am I talking about? Death panels? You mean, they're real?! Yep. They're not a formal body, but all throughout Congress there are men and women who are making decisions right now--decisions to oppose meaningful health reform--that will mean putting some people to death. The connection is not as tenuous as it may seem. There is plenty of evidence demonstrating that a lack of health insurance causes foregone care, more severe morbidity, and increased mortality. It's just that simple. Of course, if you need more evidence, Jacob Weisberg explains how the GOP's position on everything from the estate tax to environmental legislation and from stem cell research to privatizing social security threatens the lives of America's seniors.

When Sen. Grassley or Sen. Enzi delivers an anti-reform message, what they are really doing--if their message succeeds in stopping reform--is sentencing thousands of people a year to a premature death. That's right. Sen. Grassley is the ranking member of the Early Grave Commission. You don't hear them talking about that, though, do you? Of course not. People would be outraged. It's much better for them to draw attention away from themselves and direct it towards the opposition by leveling false accusations. As they say, "The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." Opponents of reform would much rather have you believe that someone wants to "pull the plug on Grandma" than realize that they, themselves, already sit on the real death panel.

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Read or Subscribe to Wright on Health to find out How We Died in 2006, how Medicare Enrollees Are Uniting To Keep Government's Hands Off Their Medicare, and two companion pieces explaining Just How Insulated We Are From Health Care Costs and Why Market-Based Solutions To Fix Health Care Won't Work. And, hey, while you're at it, why don't you become my fan on HuffPo?

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Comments

[Giverny]

For over 61 years, there have been attempts to cover our uninsured. The insurance we have is going up due to $.16 of every dollar spent in healthcare goes now to paying for the uninsured. Our premiums would go down when they get a public option. To think that our country is so far down on the mortality rates is disgusting. No one should be without coverage. None of our lawmakers have to go without. They are covered for life once they are elected to office even if they are a one term wonder. I say single payer but in the very least, public option must pass.

[robbor]

All republicans who oppose substantive healthcare reform should have their government healthcare package terminated pronto. If they oppose that too then they are hypocrites as well as being morally bankrupt.

[peacegurl48]

I am a 61 year old cancer survivor and I would rather have my life in the hands of Drs who are adhering to government regulations instead of pursuing profit for themselves and insurance companies.
So far I remain cancer-free but I want someone to work with me and my family if i were to become ill, why is that so frightening? I don't want to be kept alive by machines so that a big insurance company can increase its profit margin.
I work in a state government disablity insurance program and the most horrific stories come from those with insurance who have to expend their precious energy fighting with insurance companies to get the care that they need.
Americans are being bamboozled by corporations and the elected officials who take orders from them.

[LindaCat]

Consider the article
"Principles for allocation of scarce medical interventions" Govind Persad,Alan Werthheimer, Ezekiel J Emanuel, Lancet 2009;373:423-31

http://www.ncpa.org/pdfs/PIIS0140673609601379.pdf

The undefined 'WE' in the article who will make the 'decisions' as to allocation of medical resource is known by many names. Pick one.
It's safe to assume that with the evolving demographics and economic trends, today's level of medical resource per individual will diminish substantially in the coming term (5-15 years). Seems to me if you are 50+ you should be very concerned.

[spiritpony1]

well, my dear, what do YOU suggest; we are already losing a lot now---of all ages---due to poor ins. and policy---

[JohnZ48]

Right now those "allocation decisions are being made by people who benefit financially when they deny care.

Given the choice between a corporate vulture or a govt. bureaucrat, I'll take the bureaucrat.

[TommyMcCarthy]

Well said "JohnZ"...­.....

We already have death panels...

We just call them "claims adjusters"

You're just as dead......­..it's just that your insurance company has more money

tm

[Guitarsandmore]

All of the other countries already have public health insurance coverage and none of them are complaining about death panels. You just know its a bullshit remark from repuglicans that just want to say no to anything Dems are going to do. And we will do it.

[ilse]

For the last month aol news comments section has been swarming with right wing teabaggers who spew hate and racist remarks. Anyone who sides with President Obama and Public Healthcare, please go to aol comments board and let them know you support President Obama and the Public Healthcare plan. Do not let these ill bred rightwing teabaggers get away with running the comments board.

[weatherwaxx]

They're real, all right - they're called "cost containment initiatives" and the insurance execs use them to build up their multimillion-dollar bonuses. SO much more sensible than spending it on sick people who'll probably just kick the bucket anyway, right?

[Openeyes]

My only objection is by using the term "death panels" you buy into and perpetuate the lies of the Right.

If Palin called all elementary school teachers "indoctrinators" because schools get government funding, would you be defending the good things "indoctrinators" do for students or would you be objecting to that term outright?

Simply repeatng the term "death panels" gives it creedence. There are no "death panels" of the type that Palin describes, but by using that term, you keep her lie alive. Better to reject the term entirely than try to nuance it to mean something else. Otherwise it appearas that there is actually something there to debate.

My humble opinion is that if you buy into the Right's frame, it's pretty hard to argue your way out of it.

[D. Brad Wright - Huffpost Blogger]

I've read Lakoff, and I know that using the same language and negating it still invokes the same frames. The thing is, in this case, I wanted to use the exact same frames and simply apply it to the group that deserves to be associated with them. I want people to be just as scared about what will happen if reform doesn't pass as they are about those "things" Palin talked about. So, I respectfully disagree. I think in this case, invoking the same frames is more powerful, because the people are already primed. This is just a clarification plot twist.

A shoe is a shoe, you can call it "footwear", but it is still a shoe. But, if the shoe doesn't fit on the left (progressive) foot, you do well to try it on the right.....­.and surprise! It fits!

[SirReal1]

Nicely Done!

[bfreese]

I am not proud of our Iowa Senator, and I hope people do not give to much credence to what he says. He was not very smart when we sent him to Congress several decades ago and he certainly has not improved, And to have a man tell you that was given more than a million dollars in lobbyist money, that this has not and does not have any bearing on his decisions is very hard for even us hayseeds out here in Iowa to believe.

I do feel that if an election for the Senate was held today in Iowa, and if Grassley was one of the candidates, he would be defeated.

[Dosadi]

How did he hide his "real" side for so long?

[heartsick]

I should hope he would be defeated today and any day in the future that he runs for election to any public office. Look at him! He looks mean and uncaring. His words are deceitful and false. Iowans deserve better. All Americans deserve better.

[tandrmcdonald]

Reading the article headline I thought you were out of your effing mind, then I read the article. You are not. This is one of the most to the point pieces I've read on the real consequences of not passing a health insurance reform bill. I just wish people would stop calling it a health care reform bill. It's not health care we want reformed; it's health INSURANCE we need reformed.
If a responsible single payer bill isn't written and passed I'm afraid your vision will become reality. I'm one of the people who will be most directly affected, so I admit I have a vested interest in seeing reform passed. But I have a spouse, three adult children, their spouses and nine grandchildren who will also be directly affected if health insurance reform is not passed.
If the Congressional obstructionists like Grassley and Enzi have their way anyone in the country could be facing the Republican death panel. All they have to do is get really sick or hurt really bad.
Where are the right to lifers now? Why aren't they screaming and marching?

[DragonflyChase]

Mr. Wright, I know you and I were at lauger heads a week ago over another article, but I must say that I may have judged you too harshly. Yes, the real death panels are the insurance companies and I might argue, managed care and utilization review, which came into healthcare policy in the late 80s, have already been holding meetings or panels to decide if patients can have a treatment or procedure.

I used to sit on one. I was a secretary for a major hospital healtcare provider and one of the doctors (great guy, probably for the public option) that I supported was the head of the Utilization Review Committee. I would sit and take minutes. Usually the group was deciding if a female could have breast reduction surgery. They would pass polaroids around the room of an obese woman who had bra straps digging into her shoulders. They would blush and pass it to the next. Usually they would vote yes. This was in 1995!

[wandajbrn]

For the life of me I don't understand why the media doesn't spotlight this lying old fool. He has taken
over 2 million in health industry bribes so it is evident to me that he is on their payroll. And all this ridiculous crap being spread about imaginary "death panels" makes no sense. The insurance companies set up the death panels when they decide that the pre-existing condition does not warrant coverage. never mind the fact that they took your premium payments anyway. and don't forget if you have cancer they will not cover chemotherapy and if they do, eventually they will cancel you. SOOOO,
why are we listening to this old fool's opinion in the first place. If there was such a panel, I think he should be in front of them first. Eliminate his crusty old tail and give that 2 million + to people who
can't afford to be bankrupted by GREEDY insurance providers. REFORM THE STATUS QUO NOW!!

Wanda
Mississippi

[Davonne Rushing]

Incredible article sir. I couldn't agree more.

[Tommygun264]

In December of 2008 I was essentially warehoused by my health care provider for nine days, in extreme, constant pain that even morphine could not relieve, and an enlarged spleen that was in danger of rupturing and killing me at any moment, while my doctors waited for the administrative home office to approve my treatment and surgery. During that time I was unable to eat and could barely handle liquids by mouth - my IV provided fluids, but that was all - I lost over 30 pounds during my hospitalization and came out looking like a death camp survivor weighing 123 pounds (I'm 5'8"). I was lucky enough to survive the ordeal, but could have easily died while waiting for a faceless insurance administrator to decide my fate. Now I face more procedures to correct hernias which have developed along the incision where they removed my spleen - I am still waiting for the provider to schedule the surgery. Anyone who claims we don't have death panels operating in the US insurance industry is either willfully ignorant, or just plain stupid.

[Dosadi]

I've got a buck on stupid and will give odds. Any takers?

[Guitarsandmore]

Private insurance is the real death panel. They take your money and then cancel your coverage when you get sick, all in the name of profits!

[Dosadi]

That is called 21st century capitalism. It sucks and is not a good thing.