Cabo....you ask for my opinion and as I respect you I will answer. My answer will be seen for what is it...not a political statement. I really wish we could meet over coffee to have a heart to heart about this...but failing that here it is. I have spent all of my adult life in working in hospital throughout this country and the world. (Jersey Shore Medical Center is the latest.) During my lifetime I have lost 4 brothers, 1 sister, both my parents and numerous other relatives. My family is very Catholic and very medical...whenever a family member was in danger we always had member of the religious and a medical type in attendance to make decisions. In my fathers case when the doctors explained his condition there was no treatment which would do no harm...so the family decided to do nothing but make my father comfortable. A few years later it was my turn to make the decision about treatment for my mother. The doctors told my sister the only choice was to put my mother on a vent...I knew that should they do that my mother would not survive being taken off the vent. I called my Aunt the nun and my nephew the doctor and after that consult I told the doctors NO. 48 hours later my mother recovered and was released from ICU. Several months later her condition again was grave and the nursing home asked if we wanted her transferred to the hospital this time we said NO. Give her the antibiotics and make her comfortable. Within a few days she was at peace. At this point you might be asking what does this have to do with anything. It is a fact that in a patients final days is when the most money is spent. Doctors are trained to treat conditions but not patients. Quality of life is important and sometimes they should remember to do no harm. The best thing seniors can do is to make clear to the family, in writing what they want. I am only 59 but I have already done that. And that was the purpose of the funding for senior counseling on end of life issues. Unfortunately, the person that who first distorted this clause into the death panel charge was Betsy McCaughey. She has fought against healthcare reform for years. Here is a link for you:

http://news.muckety.com/2009/08/17/b...e-reform/19161

the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research, is not in the enforcement business. The legislation specifically states it cannot mandate coverage or create clinical guidelines. There treatment guidelines out there but they are a good thing. Like the clot busting guideline for stoke victims....if you give it to late...not a good thing. How about the treatment guidelines for HIV...it works.

There was a speaker at a Anti-Healthcare Reform rally here in Pueblo, CO who compared ObamaCare to Hitler final solution. I really hate when any political party uses fear as a weapon. Do I like the healthcare bill...not sure. I think it should include negotiated pricing for drugs. I think the public option is the only way to insure competition but would be ok with a trigger. I would favor tort reform as a part of the bill and the illegals issue has to be solved.

Hopefully, I have answered your question...