Directives get unfair rap

As president of the Idaho chapter of Compassion and Choices, I have been appalled by the recent flurry of statements concerning “death panels” and other complete fabrications of provisions that are stated to be in the various bills before Congress concerning health care reform.

Gov. Palin, Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich should review their earlier statements, in which all three endorsed advance directives as one of the best safeguards possible for people who want to have a say in how they are treated as they near the end of life.

The advance directive was intended as a way for patients to help their loved ones understand the scope of medical care the patient would want if he or she were no longer capable of communicating. This could just as easily include requesting every effort be made to sustain life as it could requesting futile treatment be discontinued if there is no hope of recovery.

The carefully prepared advance directive is the absolute best protection that any person can have to ensure that they receive the type of medical care they want, not what someone else “thinks” they want. Why anyone would claim otherwise is incomprehensible.

Bob Brown

Coeur d’Alene