Randi Rhodes Forums

Since 1999, Texas has given hospital "ethics panels" the authority to end care even if the patient or family wants to continue.

It's called the Texas Futile Care Law. The Texas Senate bill passed in 1999.

Back then, the Senate's presiding officer was Lt. Gov. Rick Perry.

Yes, the governor who says, "I always stand by the side of life."

Willie went to the hospital a few weeks ago with chest pains, according to Texas Right to Life's Elizabeth Graham.

Doctors found pneumonia and leukemia, Graham wrote. After Willie underwent surgery and chemotherapy, his family asked about another hospital or hospice care.

Though he had plenty of insurance, no other facility would accept him. After the legally required 10 days, the hospital ended nourishment.

He was "dehydrated and starved to death completely against the family's desire," Graham wrote.

One of North Texas' more prominent anti-abortion groups is Arlington-based Texans for Life.

"It's not always clear, but sometimes hospitals jerk families around," Director Kyleen Wright said Friday.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/03/24 ... rylink=cpy

Except that all "Obamacare" mandates is that families of patients discuss end-of-life care issues, not that end-of-life care has to cease against families' wishes.

What Perry mandates, the Affordable Care Act simply says doctors should discuss with their patients' families. (Sometimes ending futile end-of-life care is the best answer to the patient's suffering, as well as that of their family.)

It's so asinine to complain about rationing and death panels with Obamacare. The current private insurance system does the same thing. They routinely deny expensive treatments as 'experimental'. If they can't deny-they stall. Remember their reason for existance is profit-not making people well.