Healthcare Reform

Archy1221 said:
Seasoned observers would probably notice that  the US system does need some tweeks but those seasoned observers also knew that the “just do something and pass the unaffordable care act” wasn’t a solution to the issues with our healthcare system.  
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Pretty much what I was saying. It was a band-aid compromise with political adversaries who were offering no solutions for our healthcare system. As I've mentioned before, the ACA ended up being a very useful option for my family --- not great, but helpful.

"Just do something" isn't quite the dig you want it to be. s#!tting on the "unaffordable care act" while offering nothing in the way of solutions is just more lazy partisanship. 

 
Can anyone explain it to me like I'm 5 on why I can treat my dog with more compassion and dignity than I can my Dad? 5 years ago, our beloved corgi Frankie was diagnosed with Lymphoma.  Talked to our primary vet and got a second (and third opinion) from another respected vet in the community and all told us that unfortunately it was not treatable, and we should find the appropriate time soon to do the humane thing and let her cross the rainbow bridge. Skip ahead 3 years. two years ago, my Dad was diagnosed with dementia, most likely being Alzheimer's. There is no cure, it is just sitting there watching him get worse and worse, unhealthier by the day.  The moments he has clarity and remembers his situation and who we are, he begs us to end everyone's suffering and to kill him. The amount of emotional and physical toll this has taken on my Mom is just as heartbreaking. Knowing we can do nothing but watch him slowly die makes me so mad. So, can anyone give me the logic on why I can end the suffering of my pet and let her cross with dignity and not have to suffer, but I have to watch my Dad suffer, my Mom suffer and we all have to watch as he loses every shred of who he was and the dignity he once had?

 
Madcows said:
Can anyone explain it to me like I'm 5 on why I can treat my dog with more compassion and dignity than I can my Dad? 5 years ago, our beloved corgi Frankie was diagnosed with Lymphoma.  Talked to our primary vet and got a second (and third opinion) from another respected vet in the community and all told us that unfortunately it was not treatable, and we should find the appropriate time soon to do the humane thing and let her cross the rainbow bridge. Skip ahead 3 years. two years ago, my Dad was diagnosed with dementia, most likely being Alzheimer's. There is no cure, it is just sitting there watching him get worse and worse, unhealthier by the day.  The moments he has clarity and remembers his situation and who we are, he begs us to end everyone's suffering and to kill him. The amount of emotional and physical toll this has taken on my Mom is just as heartbreaking. Knowing we can do nothing but watch him slowly die makes me so mad. So, can anyone give me the logic on why I can end the suffering of my pet and let her cross with dignity and not have to suffer, but I have to watch my Dad suffer, my Mom suffer and we all have to watch as he loses every shred of who he was and the dignity he once had?
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That’s very heartbreaking and I feel very sorry he and your family are going through that.   I lost my mom to LBD Memorial weekend so I absolutely know what you have and currently are going through.   
 

Unfortunately it certainly doesn't get any easier.  God Bless. 

 
Madcows said:
Can anyone explain it to me like I'm 5 on why I can treat my dog with more compassion and dignity than I can my Dad? 5 years ago, our beloved corgi Frankie was diagnosed with Lymphoma.  Talked to our primary vet and got a second (and third opinion) from another respected vet in the community and all told us that unfortunately it was not treatable, and we should find the appropriate time soon to do the humane thing and let her cross the rainbow bridge. Skip ahead 3 years. two years ago, my Dad was diagnosed with dementia, most likely being Alzheimer's. There is no cure, it is just sitting there watching him get worse and worse, unhealthier by the day.  The moments he has clarity and remembers his situation and who we are, he begs us to end everyone's suffering and to kill him. The amount of emotional and physical toll this has taken on my Mom is just as heartbreaking. Knowing we can do nothing but watch him slowly die makes me so mad. So, can anyone give me the logic on why I can end the suffering of my pet and let her cross with dignity and not have to suffer, but I have to watch my Dad suffer, my Mom suffer and we all have to watch as he loses every shred of who he was and the dignity he once had?
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I am not sure about here in the USA but other countries you can go to court to get that done.  I am guessing here you can't but who knows.

 
teachercd said:
I am not sure about here in the USA but other countries you can go to court to get that done.  I am guessing here you can't but who knows.
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Someone recently told me that you can do this in Oregon. That was news to me. 

My dad's mind was fine till the last two weeks of his life, but he'd become confined to a wheelchair and was pissed off most of the time. The thing he hated most in life --- asking for help --- was his 24/7 reality and a huge burden on my equally elderly mom. If he had full control over a peaceful exit, I think my Dad would have taken it. 

 
Guy Chamberlin said:
Someone recently told me that you can do this in Oregon. That was news to me. 

My dad's mind was fine till the last two weeks of his life, but he'd become confined to a wheelchair and was pissed off most of the time. The thing he hated most in life --- asking for help --- was his 24/7 reality and a huge burden on my equally elderly mom. If he had full control over a peaceful exit, I think my Dad would have taken it. 
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I am surprised how many states that allow physician assisted, those states are Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Maine, Hawaii, New Jersey, New Mexico and Washington DC. In Montana, it's allowed through a court ruling, but isn't regulated. The only thing I know for sure is you need to be a resident of the state. Not sure how it works in each state. Plus, there's about 10 other countries across the globe that allow it as well. IMO, if the choice is made with primary doctor's approval and perhaps a state approved physician panel to review it, I feel it should be allowed in the US. It's so heartbreaking to see my parents go through this and when he finally moves to hospice care, in the end he's basically going to be high out of his mind on pain pills and just starve/dehydrate to death. Knowing the end result and what it's going to be like to finally get to that end stage just crushes my spirit. I can't tell you how many times the family has had not-so-serious, but serious enough, talks of trying to help him along.

 
Guy Chamberlin said:
Someone recently told me that you can do this in Oregon. That was news to me. 

My dad's mind was fine till the last two weeks of his life, but he'd become confined to a wheelchair and was pissed off most of the time. The thing he hated most in life --- asking for help --- was his 24/7 reality and a huge burden on my equally elderly mom. If he had full control over a peaceful exit, I think my Dad would have taken it. 
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I would imagine it is the worst part of all of that stuff...having to ask for help or needing help.  

This was one HORRIBLE example that I read about

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/apr/19/pain-of-acid-attack-led-to-mans-euthanasia-bristol-trial-told-mark-van-dongen

 
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