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VA Death Book -"Your Life, Your Choices"- Reinstated Under Obama
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by alia_d | August 24, 2009 at 03:17 pm
4986 views | 23 Recommendations | 29 comments
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#2 Obama's 'Death Book'—'New' Department of VA Teaches Former Soldiers How to Commit Suicide
sourced by Rhonda J Mangus
The VA Death Book, an end-of-life planning document that was suspended by the Bush administration, has resurfaced as an issue in the healthcare debate after being unofficially reinstated under the Obama administration.
Critics say that that VA Death Book disrespects the value of disabled life; however, defendants, like veteran Tammy Duckworth, the Assistant Secretary for the Department of Veteran Affairs, say that the VA Death Book is simply one tool of many to plan healthcare choices.
The real name of the VA Death Book is "Your Life, Your Choices." "Your Life, Your Choices" was first published in 1997 by the Department of Veteran Affairs. The 52-page VA Death Book deals with end-of-life choices in which a decision has to be made about whether or not to preserve a life. "Your Life, Your Choices" advocates planning for future medical decisions, such as situation in which a family may have to decide whether or not to pull the plug on their loved one's slim chance of life.
The VA promoted "Your Life Your Choices" through its network of hospitals and nursing homes across the United States, however, the VA Death Book was suspended by the Bush Administration, which did not like the way in which it dealt with complex health and moral issues.
Under President Obama, however, the VA unofficially reinstated "Your Life, Your Choices." There is no evidence that the decision to reinstate the book was made by President Obama; however, how he reacts to the situation may have a significant impact on the healthcare debate.
Critics says that the the VA Death Book is inappropriate because it steers users toward pre-determined conclusions. The background of the VA Death Book's author, Dr. Robert Pearlman, lends credence to this perspective, as Dr. Pearlman supports healthcare rationing.
Some, such as Jim Towey, a former director of the White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, have raised concerns that the reinstatement of the "Your Life, Your Choices" indicates pressure for the disabled to forgo critical care.
In an editorial in the Wall Street Journal, Towey wrote that "If President Obama is sincere in stating that he is not trying to cut costs by pressuring the disabled to forgo critical care, one good way to show that commitment is to walk two blocks from the Oval Office and pull the plug on 'Your Life, Your Choices.'"
However, Tammy Duckworth, a veteran of the Iraq War and the assistant secretary for the Department of Veteran Affairs, defended "Your Life, Your Choices" on television, saying that the book was simply one tool of many and that it had not been officially reinstated.
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at 16:53 on August 24th, 2009
Thanks for this story
at 17:07 on August 24th, 2009
The headlines are lying, because Obama has not said he is re-instating Your Life, Your Choices"
Did you miss the ? at the end of the sentence?
at 17:57 on August 24th, 2009
Apparently the book is already issued to returning vets (unconfirmed). In any case a pdf version of the book Your Life your Choices can be viewed. Make up your own mind of what you think it represents, without spin.
at 18:26 on August 24th, 2009
Below is the link of that book that comes directly from the VA's website
http://www.ethics.va.gov/YLYC/YLYC_First_edition_20001001.pdf
Apparently they have not scrubbed it down yet. I suspect that it will be taken down soon as the heat gets hotter on Obama.
The reason why I provided the link of the VA because the VA is the actual source of that document. It is the official delivery site that the VA directs veterans to to get documents. If another site disclose the document, then the liberals will say that other sites altered it.
at 18:41 on August 24th, 2009
Thank you arlene.
at 14:27 on August 25th, 2009
My grandson sent me this link. It does really well to support the original article, providing evidence and expounding on it from the pamphlet itself. Our brave fighting men and women deserve so much more than this. Take a look for yourself -- obamasdeathbook.blogspot.com/
at 18:06 on August 24th, 2009
This is to Bablefish. Obama doesn.t have to say he is re-instating it, it's by he actions that you see his intent, he has done nothing to stop it. And aren't the people in his cabinet suppose to reflect his idea's. And how much more goverment control would you like? If I wanted this I guess I would have moved to the Soviet Union or better yet China. But this is my country and I'll be dammed if I will let politians ruin it.
at 18:12 on August 24th, 2009
Thanks for reporting this story. Ive felt for a long time that the VA is more concerned about the cost than they are lives of the vet. Dont get me wrong, there are some good doctors at the VA. The enemy are the bean counters (administrators & :"the committee at the VA business office").I was watching foxnews & got online to read the death book. I read the whole thing & it really depressing. I would go farther to say that it was disgusting. Obama needs to be ashamed of himself. But Duckworth should be more VERY ashamed.
at 18:28 on August 24th, 2009
Sorry the link did not go thru. Im new at this. The official VA site where the death book is located can be found at
http://www.ethics.va.gov/YLYC/YLYC_First_edition_20001001.pdf
at 18:37 on August 24th, 2009
JUST ANOTHER MISTAKE BY THE HARVARD PIMP( DID HE REALLY GO THERE)???? WE SERVED OUR COUNTRY WITH HONOR AND DO NOT NEED TO BE TOLD WHEN AND WHERE TO DIE BY THIS DISGUSTING ADMINISTRATION. MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON THEIR SOULS.
at 20:02 on September 9th, 2009
You are such an idiot. "Did he go there" Scare tactics are running all over the place regarding something that you Republicans can't control. Just like history has always taught us... People kill things that they don't understand or can't find a legitimate way to defeat.... Look at Abe Lincoln and JFK....
at 19:56 on August 24th, 2009
None of the information/dictation in this pamphlet are ANY of the government's business! It is none of their concern, any more that what color car I drive or what temp my thermostat is at would be their biz. Has the entire country forgotten that per the Constitution, these dolts work for US, not vice versa? I am SO SICK of Obama acting like he is smarter than all of us. Look at his career - he has NO BUSINESS and NO EXPERIENCE to justify his being President.
at 21:49 on August 24th, 2009
I am more and more impressed by the degradation of discourse regarding health care changes and, more broadly, politics. Comparing the obama administration to nazi is just ridiculous. He is basically a moderate democrat and so many of the issues being raised were ignored under George W Bush (e.g., exploding deficits; increases in entitlement program [most notably, medicare part d]). I wish people would study their history before passing judgment so quickly. A Well-Informed Populace Is Vital To The Operation Of A Democracy...
at 07:02 on August 25th, 2009
Dear Hipporatic obama is following the Communist doctrine which are verry close to what Hitler and Nazi's did to control the masses. He has created 33 Czars that Congress nor the Senate have any oversite to control their actions if Bush had done this the Democrats would be screaming. By the way the Obama admenastration has the athorty to reenstate the VA form, not the VA. I am a Vet and this is no joke. This man is a racist, he went to a racist church for 20 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!! he has no shame if he were a good president the first thing he ahould have done was show his birth certificate. Not doing so proves he is a divider not uninter. My he rost in HELL
at 19:54 on August 26th, 2009
Bush DID have czars, and several of them are now working for the current administration! Bush also had all our emails and phone records at his disposal, authorized torture, and held citizens with no lawyers for years. But that was all OK because he's a REPUBLICAN, and evidently has the right to erode the rights of all of us. (I know he "saved" us from the terrorists, except the ones on 9-11, and the ones we create by invading Iraq who have know killed countless innocents over there.) Bush also had Blackwater, a group of hired killers, who answered only to him...not to the armed forces, not to Iraq, not to Congress...just to Bush. If that isn't naziism, I don't know what is. You people are so upset at a black president you can't think straight. Obama is not harming anyone. When we screamed about Bush and impeachment, we were called traitors. When you show up at a Presidential event carrying loaded guns, you call yourselves patriots. I call you misguided, and I pray that Palin and Beck and Hannity don't brainwash you all into killing somebody.By the way, the birth certificate, as well as the newspaper clippings from Hawaii and widely available, but those who are blind cannot see.And having information about end of life options is important for all of us...we are all going to die, and I'd rather make some choices before someone makes them for me.
at 08:32 on August 31st, 2009
Thank you Susanmg. Thank you for some sanity and rational thinking. Thank you ,thank you
at 14:53 on August 29th, 2009
Hitler was a Communist? lol. He was a facsist who haed Communists as he proved by turning on Russia when that alliance became expendable to him.
at 07:24 on August 25th, 2009
I do not trust this story. How do I know that Bush discontinued this and Obama reinstated it? Why does the writer insist on calling it The VA Death Book when it has an official title? Why is the story full of grammatical errors?
at 09:22 on August 25th, 2009
Ronx,
Look at the dates. Apparently you have not been to the government website. I posted the government's url to that DEATH BOOK. Here it is below:
http://www.ethics.va.gov/YLYC/YLYC_First_edition_20001001.pdf
On front page of the book it CLEARLY state that it is a 1997 publication. In case you forgot, Bush was not in office in 1997. Clinton was president (1993-2001). This publication also states that it was produced under a VA grant (1997-2001). Again, those dates points to Clinton. Bush got rid of that death book when he got in office.
But Obama brought it back as late as August 20, 2009. Go to the VA (government website) where you will find the date the published document was put back up on the site or revised; Again, notice the date - AUGUST 20, 2009. Who was president on that date? Answer: Obama. Below is the VA site that discloses this fact.
http://www.index.va.gov/search/va/va_search.jsp?LC=9935&PQ=your+life&PT=%22YOUR+LIFE%22&QT=YOUR+LIFE&UA=Search&RPP=10
at 07:30 on August 25th, 2009
The whole booklet is not a government form. It is a suggested procedure for those who want to consider end of life concerns. It is something you can use to guide yourself through difficult decisions, not a requirement for anything. Get a grip, people!
at 14:38 on August 25th, 2009
Ronx said:
" It is a suggested procedure for those"
------------
The "those" you are referring to are VETERANS.
at 09:00 on August 25th, 2009
I have a copy of this book. This book tries to make you feel like it would be better for your loved ones if you just let yourself die. This is an offical government publication which was written by the Clinton Administration's Robert Pearlman MD their were five other people involved with this text none of which were MD's. This was reinstated by the Obama Administration. If your a Vet you can request a copy from the VA. This book tells you how to die with descriptions of the process. That is why it's refered to the death book.
at 15:13 on August 25th, 2009
i would like to buy this book,but where?
at 18:52 on August 25th, 2009
Belle
The publication is not for sale. Its for free & can be obtained from the governments' website located at:
http://www.ethics.va.gov/YLYC/YLYC_First_edition_20001001.pdf
at 20:17 on August 25th, 2009
This the same thing any good elder lawyer will tell you to do, it makes it easier on everyone. If you have every had a family member not be able to tell you what they want, you will wish that they have put their wishes in writing. This pampelet is advice, not a legal document. I didn't vote for Obama, but I sure don't see what the big deal is, just some good free advice.
at 08:07 on August 28th, 2009
Many seniors are considering their status in this world as a result of the "death book" being talked about on television. As a senior, I do not want to be a burden on anyone and with the threats of limiting Social Security and Medicare, is it time to go on so illegals can be insured and taken care of in the United States?
at 11:28 on August 29th, 2009
Ye, I read the last sentence. Duckworth said it had not been officially reinstated. Notice the word, Officially, but unofficially who knows for sure. She can't tell us the truth.
at 14:47 on August 29th, 2009
Thank you for the opportunity to add to the discussion. I have had this kind of discussion with my attorney and have signed a living will along with a regular will. The cost was $250 and gave me peace of mind. While it is none of my business if others want a living will, it is a good idea for your loved ones to make decisions if you are incapacitated. To me, this is another example of taking things out of context. There is nothing in any healthcare bill providing healthcare for illegal immigrants or for any abortion procedures yet those myths are perpetuated. Someone would have to prove to me that this pamphlet was being given to depressed veterans as a way to encourage suicide. That is a long leap from what is being insinuated.
at 11:58 on November 7th, 2009
This death book is written by Pearlman, a Jew. Why? Did he not remember that this was the initial system practice in Hitler's Germany before Hitler gassed everyon.? All of these sick and disabled people were isolated, rationed and quarantined in hospitals and left to die. I think the American people should protest this outrage on the streets.