Viral E-Mail Myths on Healthcare Reform

Whatever your opinion about the proposed healthcare reform bill, please make sure you check the facts you use to make your decisions AND check your facts before you forward e-mails to your whole address book. With the rapid spread of e-mails, we have an even greater ethical responsibility for what we put out and what we forward to our contacts.

Several people have forwarded me an e-mail by a man who lists numerous pages and states what horrible things will happen to all of us. Some are highlighted in red so people can be even more scared. I haven't yet gone through each statement this man made, but I did check a few statements related to end-of-life care because I heard fears from one of my dear friends and also read Sarah Palin's characterization of the proposals being 'downright evil' and involving 'death panels'. (Using that kind of language is an issue of it's own and you can read more at What World Do We Create with Our Words? )

Here is what the chain e-mail says (there are several similar versions):

• Page 425: Government provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death.

• Page 427: Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment; government dictates how your life ends.

• Page 429: Advance Care Planning Consult will dictate treatment as patient’s health deteriorates. This can include a GOVERNMENT ORDER for end-of-life plans.

• Page 430: Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at end-of-life.

Another e-mail goes even further:

On Page 425 of Obama’s health care bill, the Federal Government will require EVERYONE who is on Social Security to undergo a counseling session every 5 years with the objective being that they will explain to them just how to end their own life earlier. Yes…They are going to push SUICIDE to cut medicare spending!!!

If you actually read page 425-430 (the PDF version) OR (the online version by section) (or check it out at FactCheck.org on this issue) you will see that it is listing what will be a reimbursible office visit -- and is now including discussions about end-of-life wishes. The section of the Social Security Act (section 1861(s)(2)) that it is modifying is listing of Miscellaneous Services and includes things like psychiatric care, home dialysis and more -- NONE of which are required. In terms of talking about living wills, health care proxy, etc., it is defining what can be part of one of these session that they will reimburse. It includes discussion of things like living wills, health proxy's so that people can choose to have advanced directives that will be honored in health settings -- or choose not to have them.

After the Terri Schiavo case hit the news, I went out the next week and met with an attorney to set up what I want done and not done if I am incapable of making decisions or if I am brain dead. Other people might make different choices, but I want my choices honored and I do NOT want to end up like she did. This part of the reform reimburses a physician for taking the time to sit down and talk with her or his patient about those things if they so choose. It is not mandated and the government does NOT decide for you. Other people WILL decide for you if you don't have advanced directives.

So my point is, as you decide what you agree or disagree with in this reform proposal, check out the facts for yourself rather than decide based on e-mails or pronouncements (even mine!). And certainly consider your own ethical responsibility to check this and anything else you send out or forward e-mails.

May we come to wise decisions on this very important issue that will affect all of us.