Jake,

These stories occur only in the media for one purpose..... hint, it is not for giving objective information on the subject, but rather as political material for spinning to be used for strategic political purposes.

I remember that one of the republican candidates (forgot who) claimed that in the Netherlands elderly are wearing "Do not apply euthnesia" labels in hospitals to prevent premature euthnesia. The Netherlands got quite upset about this utter nonsense. This was another example for just misleading the public with false information for political purposes. Yack.... I makes my heart puge out

Walter,


>>>>>I don't have the words, at least not those that are allowed here.
>>>>>
>>>>>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2240075/Now-sick-babies-death-pathway-Doctors-haunting-testimony-reveals-children-end-life-plan.html#ixzz2DcUKj73D
>>>>
>>>>Had excellent NHS care myself two weeks ago Jake . Citing the DailyMail is a bit like me quoting Fox News at you.
>>>
>>>A friend's mother had an excellent Medicare experience over the last couple months. So????
>>>
>>>I don't get the Fox News reference. Are you saying the DailyMail is right wing or that it's the most comercially successful news outlet in the Kingdom? If the latter, I'd be stunned since it's a print medium which is dead. ;)
>>>
>>>Update: As for the story. Is there any traction over there with these LCP stories or is the Mail just trying to stir up something?
>>>
>>>Here's another from the Telegraph.
>>>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9716418/Half-of-those-on-Liverpool-Care-Pathway-never-told.html
>>
>>The DailyMail is right wing.
>>
>>And the Pathway stories are much loved by the right wing media as a handy stick to beat a government agency with while at the same time giving no column inches to any balancing articles.
>>
>>http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/nov/06/jeremy-hunt-end-of-life-care.
>
>I wasn't aware that "balancing" articles were a requirement of a news organization. I'll remember that the next time I read a global warming article in the NY Times.
>
>Besides, doesn't the mere fact that the editorial you posted exists provide "balance"?
>
>It seems to me that these stories were being published in order to raise alarm about some rather despicable behavior regarding abuse of the LCP.
>
>The editorial you posted contains the following we need to ask why doctors were not using the LCP properly, not to attack the pathway itself. Because the author believes and implements the protocols the way they were intended he believes it works for all, despite contrary evidence that the Pathway is providing less scrupulous physicians a justification for nefarious use.
>
>That type of rationalization reminds me of the old argument about how Communism works, it just hasn't been properly implemented. That rationalization ignores the simple fact that if humans are involved they will implement these things as they see fit, which will never match the ideal. If the accusations have merit the problem IS the pathway not its implementation.
>
>If people are being placed on the Pathway without being told
>If the payment for Pathway accusations are true
>If infants are placed on it while their parents are ill-informed or outright lied to
>
>I see the stories have led to formal investigations. That seems the proper course.