Quick Fact: Palin links nonbinding mammogram guidelines to "death panels"
On Laura Ingraham's radio show, Sarah Palin linked a task force's recent recommendations on breast cancer screenings to the widely debunked smear -- propagated by Palin -- that health care reform will include "death panels." Palin fearmongered about death panels despite the fact that the recommendations are not legally binding on health care providers or insurers.
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From the November 19 edition of Talk Radio Network's The Laura Ingraham Show:
INGRAHAM: What's your take?
PALIN: I think that you have been brilliant on this, because the mammogram recommendation -- this whole issue is demonstrating precisely what you've pointed out, the problem about the panels, the death panels of government bureaucrats, and I think you call it the hospice chuting, the -- but those panels of bureaucrats having more and more input into Americans' personal decisions, decisions, really, that belong between them and their doctors. And this is what rationed care is going to be about.
Undermining Palin's claims, task force recommendations not legally binding
Task force recommendations not legally binding. Contrary to Palin's claims about the mammogram recommendations, the task force recommendations are not legally binding. Moreover, the task force encouraged policymakers to include additional considerations and "individualize decision making to the specific patient or situation." In a Nightly News report on the task force recommendations, NBC chief medical correspondent Dr. Nancy Snyderman stated, "It's important to remember that these new recommendations from this independent task force are just that -- they're recommendations. They don't mandate any changes in who should get mammograms and when."
Wash. Post: Chairman states all task force members were seated under or chosen by Bush
Task force appointed under Bush. The Washington Post reported on November 18:
Ned Calonge, who chairs the 16-member panel, defended the recommendations and denied that cost or the debate over health-care reform played any role in the decision. "Cost just isn't a consideration when the task force deliberates," said Calonge, who is also the chief medical officer for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Twelve of the task force members were seated during the Bush administration, and the remaining four were chosen before President George W. Bush left office, he said.
Right-wing media have repeatedly revived debunked "death panel" claim
Fox News personalities advance Palin's "death panel" claim. In an August 7 Facebook posting, Palin claimed that under Democratic health care reform, "Obama's 'death panel' " would "decide" whether her parents or her son Trig, who has Down syndrome, were "worthy of health care." Over the following days, conservative media figures adopted Palin's "death panel" term or advanced or expressed support for her assertion -- which is based on the widely debunked claim that the House health care reform bill would require end-of-life counseling. Media Matters for America subsequently identified more than 40 instances of media reporting that these claims are false.
Imagine how well the programming works on those who never expose themselves to reality at all, people who only watch Fox and listen to righty radio.
The Presidential election went a different way last year, but I don't see any slowing down of the bombastic jargon of attacks and non-ideas. Violence egged on by these babblers is just over the horizon if we don't somehow impose some restrictions on the free-flowing libel that is called by some 'News', by others, 'Entertainment'.
To say that a scientific recommendation is tantamount to 'death panels' and somehow will force Palin to choose between her parents and her son is so ludicrous as to be laughable - if there weren't so many voters out there ready to eat it up like candy.
My prediction is this: Employment numbers will rebound in 2010. Maybe not before the mid terms but it will happen. Some type of health care reform will pass and what noticeable benefits there are will encourage people. By 2011, Obama will be sitting at 55-65% approval ratings and the GOP will be shouting for Palin. It's Democratic rule for 8 to 12 years in the White House and at least 20 in Congress. Thanks Rush, Sean, Glenn, and Bill. You're the greatest.
Her description of obamacare is spot on. The left wants to say this is about the end of live counseling but it is about the whole system that will be created if this goes through.
Jim Quinn said it best when he describe obamacare/socialized medicine as 're-distribution of life', your life given to the system and on their panel's,death and otherwise,determination.
How often do you need to wash your underwear living with that level of irrational fear?
Obama has advocated a panel that would be empowered to determine 'best practices' which congress would be required to accept or deny in toto. Now I know I am cynical, but what bets that the executive branch wont put some sought after benefit to hide a raft of restrictions in each list?
Without profit motive there is no need to grow market or improve...just like medicare.
Please review pgs. 1189 to 1190 Authority To Modify or Eliminate Coverage of Certain Preventive Services, and then 1146 to 1150 Community Preventive Services Task Force.
Lastly, there is "NO" mammogram wording in the ENTIRE HealthCare Reform Bill.