VA End of Life Book

http://www.rihlp.org/pubs/Your_life_your_choices.pdf

This link should work.

Yeah, go figure. This booklet is exactly what I have talked about for years. In order to get to a goal of death panels and end-of-life decisions, they had to start somewhere. Take euthanasia for example. I was against passing laws for people to be allowed to be assisted killing themselves. Yes, I know all the compassionate pleads and humane reasons about mercy for someone in pain with a terminal disease. And I understand that kind of situation where a person wants to be set free from it. However, the first step to the road to setting life limits was that very law. Baby steps, people. Appeal to the compassion of people for merci and kindness in order to eventually get to the true goal. What is that goal? Exactly what is being hinted at ever so slightly in this book about end of life decisions. The world was horrified at what Hitler was doing. He got his people to agree, in the interest of cutting expenses, to limit (ration) healthcare to certain people based on their value to society. Once he convinced the people that it was human to end the lives of those who were deformed, disabled, or too old, it was a easier step to convincing them of others who should die. Other countries have already taken the next baby step from assisted suicide to with-holding medicine and treatment to the elderly. It starts with a baby step that appeals to compassionate people and progresses from there.

This is not about telling people they're worthless

and need to die. It's about making a living-will. Plan ahead just in-case.

Did you guys even read the whole thing or just take someone else's opinion on what the book is?

http://www.rihlp.org/pubs/Your_life_your_choices.pdf

And it is still posted on the original site you just have to look for it.

Soooo Bazookaman,

How are your cancer treatments going? The cancer that the V.A. linked directly through blood tests to your exposure to Agent Orange at Khe Sanh, Vietnam in 1968. Has the V.A. given you the "Pamphlet" yet on "YOUR Life, YOUR Choices"?

If not............

Here is a link to the whole VA pamphlet "Your Life, Your Choices":

http://www1.va.gov/pugetsound/docs/ylyc....

-- Posted by Councilman Schroeder on Sun, Aug 23, 2009, at 2:00 PM

Wow! Congratulations, after 40+ years you have survived longer than most victims of Agent Orange exposure. But you should know that your continued existence is costing this present administration money. Money that they would like to use on perhaps illegal aliens or others entrenched in academia that have never lifted a finger in the defense of our great nation.

You should probably just save the government some money and enter the Carousel and enjoy the time of renewal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSnLU9nyFSA

Yes, censored. I read the whole thing. And you are right about the fact that it is about making a living will. It is also suggestive and can be manipulative to a person not in the right frame of mind. Everyone goes through days when they feel worthless or a drain on their family or society. Many elderly people, especially men, will go through a stage just after retirement when they are depressed, unable to adjust and feeling profoundly worthless. Add into that an illness and you have the perfect combination to sway a person into making bad choices. Luckily, those with a good family and/or friends network can work through this to the other side of adjustment into a very valuable and worthwhile retirement. There are so many retired veterans who bring so much to the lives of the people around them as well as their community. Our children need the elderly in so many ways. But if they are given this type of booklet during that depressed stage, then many will never make it to the golden years of retirement. I read it! It is simple psychology, where many can be convinced that if they have a heart attack, it would be better to just ride it to the other side. It certainly has many scare-tactical wording that would be helpful in getting many records to say DNR! Just walk away and let them die! DNR!

Actually Bazookaman, that was Beau pasting my post linking to the pamphlet a couple of days ago. Thank you for your confidence in me, but I respectfully disagree with your assertion that I am alone in knowing what I am doing. To be sure, there are some who do not, but there are quite a few very dedicated, honorable, and very knowlegeable public servants whom I admire greatly. I am sure we disagree on who they are, but it is those differences and a respectful dialog on those differences that help to make our governments work better. I am glad to hear that you are doing better with your illness.

I posted the link to the VA pamphlet so everyone could have a chance to read the whole document and draw their own conclusions as to its value.

With all do respect>

Just a reminder Mrs. Kovac(your words) "I did read most of it!" Which leads me to believe that you only read the pages that the other talking heads suggested you read. Which is what I have found on all of these blogs by the right and written in "almost" the exact same words as yours.

And the left is blogging about how the right is taking things out of context at every turn then calling you guys crazy. Then the right brings in the conspiracy theories and calls the left astroturf meat heads and everyone begins to circle each other, sizing up the competition for battle, like feral dogs.

Left and Right are crazy and the media doesn't help the matter, just perpetuates the symptoms of hysteria.

So your right about the psychology part, but it's the psychology of fear and paranoia being aimed at the right and left. Aimed to keep the people divided and contentous, effectively keeping the power of the people halved so nothing can ever be fixed.

-That pamphlet is meant for "terminally ill" patients so they can get their affairs in order for the inevitable.-

Heck, I've filled one out and I'm not even close to being terminal. Maybe terminally frustrated with both-sides of the argument and the reality t.v. mentality that Americans have adopted.

Jinkies!!

A voice from the past speaks out on Health Care Reform.

http://americanmissive.com/2009/08/14/ronald-reagan-on-health-care-reform/

Now for the great debate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6DmjBneGBc&feature=related

This is kinda funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FR5MweSZjbc&NR=1

I didn't read pages 1-8 completely. Didn't need to. I went to the meat of this and read. I skimmed pages 9-16 then read all about the diseases (pgs 17-19) then I read the rest completely. Now to be fair, I read this book on Sunday when I hadn't heard anything in the media about it. Thank you Shroeder and Beau for posting it. What the media decided to write or report about it happened after I had already read it and asked permission to re-post it from Beau. I waited for the "ok" from him first! Now I can see great value in helping someone decide what they want their end-of-life choices to be and to set it up to have a spokesperson in case you can't speak for yourself. My problem is with the underlying tone of this psychological thriller. Why do we have suicide hot lines? Because people deep within their pain and depression tend to make rash decisions. They need a voice of reason. This book given to a person in that frame of mind will only encourage them to not value their precious life. That is my concern. Also, how does this strengthen the cause of those like our Science Czar who want to control population and the medical cost of the elderly? (time 7:22am)

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2009/aug/25/michael-steele/rn...

http://www1.va.gov/health/YourLifeYourChoices.asp

I've spoken to a dear friend of mine who has worked in healthcare for quite some time. She explained to me that healthcare providers ask their patients whether they have advance directives in place so that those providers will follow the patients wishes in the event a patient becomes unable to communicate those wishes.

Our government has already determined, for every patient, that if no advance directive is in place, all measures will be taken to save the patient, regardless of the outcome of those efforts. So, by default, you'll be saved, whether or not you like, or are even aware of, the outcome.

Now, I'd rather confront reality and make some decisions with the help of this VA pamphlet, than put anyone through this: See http://news.findlaw.com/legalnews/lit/schiavo/

http://www.amjmed.com/article/PIIS0002934307001003/fulltext

Same info...appropriate blog...hope Intern can follow along.

Intern, Intern, Intern, you really need to fact check before you blog. Following from a doctor:

"The Veteran's Administration has a brochure entitled "Your Life, Your Choices" that was given to some veterans when admitted to the VA hospital system or in VA nursing homes. It was first published in 1997, and this 52 page book was promoted as the VA system's living will document.

In 2000 when the Bush administration reviewed this document, it was suspended, but has resurfaced once again. The suspension was warranted due to the nature of some of the end-of-life information it provided. It went well beyond living wills or medical durable power of attorney recommendations."

http://millermeeks.com/doctorsnotes/vete...

The orginal pamphlet was issued during CLINTON'S reign and was discontinued after the Bush administration found it's contents objectionable. So before you open your mouth and insert the other foot, do a little fact checking first.

Thank you and have a great day

Good post Dave but quite irellevant if you are traveling down Hiway 84 and get into a crash. With the exceptions of a couple alert bracelets you can purchase there is little you can tell an EMT at 2am when you are unconscious. A DNR or a living will usually isn't the first thing I look for when I roll up on a crash. If you are taken to St. Als via Life Flight, they won't have your paperwork on file. If...IF they can contact the next of kin, it will be THEIR wishes that will be followed. Remember you have to have an original, signed copy of a DNR before a doctor will pull the plug, before an EMT will stop life saving measures.

You know the same government that wants you to explore "alternate" options for the end of your life, they still won't give you the one choice that truly makes sense.

And speaking for myself, I never thought once about whether the government told me to save your life at an accident. I would do everything within my meager power to save a life if at all possible. If they had a DNR in the desk at home never entered my thoughts.

And don't forget to check the refrigerator!

www.factcheck.org

Mr Dave Thompson, Thank you so much for your kind posted comment to my blog Czar #1 & #2. It is so heartwarming to know that there are people like you out there who will show such kindness and concern for my well-being. I will continue to write and post all of my facts and research and comments and thoughts and cheerful words of wisdom as long as there are grateful people like you out there to read it. Thanks so much for reaffirming how wonderful it is to be a blogger! Oh and since you are such a factcheck-lover, as I am too, I will be sure and have a full report of my personal time and work time ready just in case it's needed in the future. And it's because of you that I am staying on the ball and following the straight and narrow. God Bless!

Come on now Kim, I'm sure I told you back on Czar #1 & #2 that I could not care less what you do during your personal time or your work time.

I think we will all benefit from fact checking one another.

Mr Dave thompson, if you couldn't care less, why did you bring it up? I read and I listen and respect people's comments. I have always strived to be fair and open to listening to other people's views. There was no need for what you said. Go ahead and attack my views. Call me whatever name you want that pertains to the subject at hand, but stay away from insinuating unethical misdeeds on my part or writing false accusations which are just enough to cause me and my family hardship due to loss of income. And since you decided to quote scripture, I believe that you need to look at the one that states, You should not bear false witness against your neighbor. Don't try to become defensive and state that you didn't do that. Gossiping is like telling little white lies that you know will become big lies within a day of re-telling.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/story?id=7057198&page=1

As of 8:11 CDT, you're alone on your ledge.

Yawn.