The one word to describe Obamacare

[snopes]

Comment: Was this really written by a doctor?

http://www.tothepointnews.com/content/view/3714/87/

[Bryan With a 'Y']

So what if it was?

To my knowledge, there's nothing in the sports medicine curriculum that makes one an expert in public policy.

Speaking just from my own sandbox, the author certainly proves he knows nothing whatsoever about hospice, end-of-life care, or advance directives. He also repeats the myth about the bill outlawing private insurance.

The author could well have an MD. Sadly, that doesn't seem to imply as much in the way of critical thinking and reading skills as it should.

[snopes]

I'd guess that if he didn't actually write it he's getting tired of being asked about it, as we've tried to contact him five different ways, only to get two bounced e-mails, one disconnected phone number, and two no responses:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/janda.asp

[Natalie]

A quick google of "Congressional dinner" seems to suggest that Congressional dinners tend to have more prestigious guests than an unknown orthopedist.

Honestly, if this doctor did write this I would hesitate to seek his services as a physician. I want a doctor who understands the value of fact-checking random things they hear, something eluding the author of this piece.

[AnglRdr]

Well, if it helps, he has contributed to Investor's Business Daily, that illustrious mag that published the "If Stephen Hawking were English, he'd be dead" editorial.

So, it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume he wrote this drivel.

[Steve Eisenberg]

Originally Posted by snopes

I'd guess that if he didn't actually write it he's getting tired of being asked about it, as we've tried to contact him five different ways, only to get two bounced e-mails, one disconnected phone number, and two no responses:

You probably already know this, but the most recent (2006) contact information on the net may be what's in the University of Michigan Directory. The home phone number listed there seems defunct, but the orthopedic group practice looks real.

Tentatively, I'm thinking that this is the guy, and that Oprah won't be inviting him on her show again for a long, long time.

[Ana Ng]

Translation.....if you are over 65 or have been recently diagnosed as having an advanced form of cardiac disease or aggressive cancer.....dream on if you think you will get treated.....pick out your coffin.

Oh, you say this could never happen? Sorry.... this is the same model they use in Britain.

We've got a lot of Brits on the board, who are likely sleeping unless they're Eddylizard and don't sleep, maybe they can tell us all about their death panels.

Three of my four grandparents died between 50 and 55, of preventable reasons. One grandparent was kept alive on sheer bitterness. Tell me, Europeans, do you know anyone who was forced to die because it didn't pay to treat them?

I mean, this just seems so silly to me- we know Europeans, doesn't anyone in the anti-healthcare camp realize that if rationing of care existed like this, we'd have heard of the Nazi death squads by now? Maybe someone would've set up a website or something?

[queen of the caramels]

Given my father, who died earlier this year,was was being given radiation treatment 3 days before he died..I call BS. He was due his next treatment the day he died.

He was 77 and had been fighting spine cancer for 5 years. The cancer had by then moved to one of his kidneys and he was on dialasys(sp??) for the last 2 months of his life.

[Don Enrico]

Originally Posted by Ana Ng

Tell me, Europeans, do you know anyone who was forced to die because it didn't pay to treat them?

I don't.

And for what it's worth, some two years ago a young conservative politician suggested that people over the age of 70 (or was it 75?) shouldn't get a hip replacement paid by public healthcare, because they won't use it long enough to make it worthwhile. The press as well as politicians from all parties (his own included) were all over him, and he still hasn't lived it down.

Don Enrico

[Squirt]

My mother is 69, and has just been through a fairly extensive bit of medical care - she had a pacemaker and then some intestinal surgery. Not a life threatening situation as such, but if they're doing that for people with minor heart problems they're not gonna dump you by the side of the road if you need a bypass.

[Troberg]

Well, in the strictest sense of the word, it is fascist. Fascism is based on the idea of privately owned enterprise under government control, and that, to a certain extent, applies here.

That said, I still think public healthcare is a good idea, but it is my belief that it should be kept public throughout, without private influences, and that it should not operate with a goal to maximize economical efficiency, it should operate with the goal to maximize health care efficiency. That model is used here, and works excellent, although our current government is deconstructing it to shave some decimals of the taxes.

[Mr. Billion]

Originally Posted by AnglRdr

Well, if it helps, he has contributed to Investor's Business Daily, that illustrious mag that published the "If Stephen Hawking were English, he'd be dead" editorial.

So, it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume he wrote this drivel.

I think this is the first I've heard of that editorial! A bit of Googling turned up the page it's on:

http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArti...33933006516877

Unfortunately, the people who run the site have become aware of what a laughing stock they made of themselves, and have changed the editorial to remove any mention of Stephen Hawking.

There's still plenty of laughable stuff in it, but even though it's laughable it's somehow not funny.

[RCIAG]

I wish I had the patience to read all of that but I don't. It would probably just make me anyway.

Cripes, if you don't want the stupid healthcare plan or don't approve of it in any way, don't take it when & if it's offered. It's that simple.

But then what would the Tinfoil Hat Brigade have to gripe about? Oh I'm sure there will plenty of other stuff, but this is the issue of the day I suppose.

[Silas Sparkhammer]

Originally Posted by Don Enrico

. . . And for what it's worth, some two years ago a young conservative politician suggested that people over the age of 70 (or was it 75?) shouldn't get a hip replacement paid by public healthcare, because they won't use it long enough to make it worthwhile. The press as well as politicians from all parties (his own included) were all over him, and he still hasn't lived it down.

Meanwhile, in the Land of the Free, my aunt, on her second hip replacement, was told by her insurance company, "Don't break it again, because we aren't going to replace it this time."

That's the irony that most poisons me in this debate: conservatives screaming, "They'll ration health care" -- when that is already exactly what is happening!

Silas

[RCIAG]

Originally Posted by Silas Sparkhammer

That's the irony that most poisons me in this debate: conservatives screaming, "They'll ration health care" -- when that is already exactly what is happening!

Silas

That's what I've been saying all along. Insurance companies have been doing that very same thing for years.

[snopes]

I just now got of the phone with Dr. Janda, who confirmed that he did write the piece. He was actually quite friendly and helpful, not at all like a raving town hall shouter.

[Chloe]

If you talk to him again, ask him the following:

Given that

Translation.....if you are over 65 or have been recently diagnosed as having an advanced form of cardiac disease or aggressive cancer.....dream on if you think you will get treated.....pick out your coffin.

Oh, you say this could never happen? Sorry.... this is the same model they use in Britain.

how come Chloe's mother was treated for her breast cancer in the UK at 71?

[snopes]

Originally Posted by Chloe

If you talk to him again, ask him the following

When he started talking about the death threats, I figured there was probably nothing I could tell/ask him that he hadn't heard already.

[Chloe]

Oh dear. Poor fellow!

[DawnStorm]

I'm not gaga over this ObamaCare plan, but I'm sick and tired of hearing the OMG!1 statements about death panels, the 'horrible' care the Brits and Canadians get, etc.I do intend to look through the bill either today or tomorrow and make up my own mind, but I do think that there is/will be enough items in the bill to debate about/discuss without having to scare the bejeebers out of people. IMO, any country's health care/health care payment is a huge YMMV. But c'mon g-people! G-y'all sound really stupid and uninformed.
Huge supporter of people on both sides speaking out at these town hall meetings, but keep it civil and sound intelligent please. Thank you.