During the recent debate over the proposed government-provided health care option, there has been great controversy over the inclusion in that plan of "end-of-life" counseling, or "death panels," as critics of the plan have called them. In the now defunct House bill, the government would have provided financing for those receiving government-funded health care to have optional consultations with physicians on end-of-life care choices, including hospice care.
Critics of end-of-life counseling feared it would open the door to the government making decisions about the type and level of care each person should receive based on a cost-benefit analysis. They argued this in turn could lead to the government deciding who would live and who would die and sanction the use of euthanasia.
Regardless of your stance on the healthcare debate or the use of end-of-life counseling, the truth of the matter is that everyone needs to have a plan in place for their own end-of-life decisions. Those who do not have a plan will leave their treatment and care decisions in the hands of their families, doctors or maybe even the government. By using the proper estate planning tools, you can take control of your health care decisions now and ensure that your wishes are followed in the future.
Continue Reading
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_b.png?x-id=8c3a935c-9692-4d89-a7fa-0901b6136890)
No comments:
Post a Comment