Archive for health care
Ringing in 2010: Thoughts on the Right to Die!
Sorry to bring your “Happy New Year” to a screeching halt, but yesterday’s decision by the Montana Supreme Court in a physician-assisted suicide case (Baxter v. State) is too rich a source to ignore. And too personal.
In a case that focused on a nice question of statutory interpretation, the court ruled that a terminally ill [...]
Paul Starr’s Raynes, McCarty Presentation
A recent post discussed Professor Paul Starr’s Raynes McCarty Distinguished Lecture in Health Law, and purported to link to that lecture. Unfortunately, that link was “dead.” In case you’d prefer a live one, it’s now available here (in two parts). It just went up.
It’s more timely than ever, with the Senate’s health care debate heating [...]
Is Mary Landrieu Defensive, or Right?
Probably both.
Today, in advance of the Senate’s strictly partisan vote to proceed to debate on the health care reform bill, 1 Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu attempted to do what might have seemed impossible: She not only defended the $100 million in earmarks gifted to her state, but actually called herself “proud” of having asked for [...]
Of Oysters and Mammograms
“I can’t believe they would put an economic value over the lives of fifteen or more people.” (Statement of a woman whose father died as a result of eating raw oysters that contained a deadly bacteria.)
“Let the rationing begin.” (Rep. David Camp, Ranking Republican on House Ways and Means Committee, responding to U.S. Preventive Services [...]
Paul Starr on Health Care Reform
I don’t often use this space to direct readers to something my law school is doing, but in this case I feel compelled to do just that. Yesterday, Paul Starr of Princeton delivered our annual Raynes McCarty Lecture on Health Law, and reminded us of something easy to forget: There are actually important issues of [...]
The AMA v. Focus on the Family
Last week’s resolution by the American Medical Association that supported overturning the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was widely praised. Somewhat less noticed was the AMA’s conclusion that barring same-sex couples from marrying has negative health consequences. Since employers often tie health benefits to marriage, same-sex couples (like other legally unmarried couples) are left out.
It’s [...]
The Catholic Church in D.C. Outdoes Itself
Just this morning, I was at thinking that it might be time to write a few words in praise of the Catholic Church. Of course, it’s hard for me to do that given (1) my own history as a conscriptee (until old enough to opt out); (2) the Church’s stand on same-sex unions; and (3) [...]
Abortion, Again
As I write this, the House of Representatives has just approved, 220-215, the vast health care reform bill that has on the hot stove for much of the year. But before doing so, the Democratic leadership caved to the pro-life members of their caucus, and allowed a vote on an amendment that will make obtaining [...]
Death Panels? That’s Nothing!
Those “death panels” that certain crazies decried weren’t that at all, but ways of providing incentives for physicians and patients to give serious thought to end-of-life planning. This trumped-up outrage was enough to kill the provision, though.
Here’s some good reporting in the Times on rationing of care, even at the cost of death to some, [...]
Max Baucus and The Supermajority Tilt-A-Whirl
Has this ever happened to you?
Earlier tonight, I wanted to take the car to go to the gym. But I couldn’t go because my spouse had the car keys. Could I have asked him to just hand them over? Oh, I never thought of that; I guess, now that you mention it, that I did [...]