Hi Mark, This is one more example of the greed that has taken over the medical community, And can we expect our government to protect us? Right! Too many times we've seen States trying to cut necessary basic needs to save money. Just this year here in Texas, Andrea Clark, the sister of a friend of mine was threatened to have her life-support removed against her wishes under the State's "Futile Care" Law. While she was in St. Lukes Episcopal Hospital in Houston, she and her family successfully battled to keep her life-support connected. She eventually died from an infection on May 7, 2006. http://www.texasrighttolife.com/andrea.php For those of you living in Texas, please take a little time to read and get to understand this law. Andrea has lost her battle but her friends and family are fighting on to see that the proper changes are made in the law! The law that allows hospitals to legally euthanize patients against their own or their family's will is actually part of the Texas Health and Safety Code. Section 166.046 of the Advance Directives Act, often referred to as the "futile care" law, was signed into law in 1999 by then Governor, George Bush. While some may find it shocking that an self-avowed pro-life supporter as Bush could sign such a murderous act, you might also be shocked to find that pro-life legislators supported the measure as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Futile_Care_Law http://www.texaspatientrights.org/ Below is a 10 Point Check-List from Andrea's sister, Lanore, setting out some guidelines that can be done to help in the fight to change this law. Please take the time to read them. 10 Things You Can Do to Help Change the Texas "Futile Care" Law 1. Tell people about the law. The "futile care" law is Texas' dirty little secret. Expose it. Tell everyone you know about it. Tell members of your church, your book club, your karate class, your dance class, your writing group, your family; tell your kids' teachers, soccer team; tell your babysitter, your hairdresser, your co-workers. Tell EVERYONE, every chance you get. (Even if you don't live in Texas, you can tell friends and family members who do live in Texas about the law.) 2. Go to www.texaspatientrights.org to learn more about the law and what you can do about it. 3. Write your legislators and let them know your values and that you are paying attention to their votes on this issue. (Learn who your legislators are and where to write them at the website: www.texaspatientrights.org) 4. Write about this issue to the editor of your local paper. 5. Post about this issue in online newsgroups or local internet bulletin boards. .6. Write about this issue on your blog or myspace page. 7. Write about the issue in an email and send it to ten friends and tell them to send it to ten friends. 8. If you have your own website, blog, or myspace page, link to the Texas Patient Rights website: www.texaspatientrights.org 9. Learn the practical facts about the law, not the comforting myths. Example: Myth: Patients need not be euthanized if they're willing to move to another facility. Fact: Once a patient has the "death by ethics committee" sentence passed, most facilities will not consider accepting a patient. Fact: In very complex cases, it is difficult, if not impossible to find a qualified facility to accept the patient. Fact: In matters of negligence or medical errors, medical providers have an incentive to thwart transfer of patients rather than to transfer them. . Note: You can learn more at the website: www.texaspatientrights.org 10. Copy this letter and send it to your friends, asking them to join the effort. With Love, CtrlAltDel aka Dave C4/5 Complete - 30 Years Post Texas, USA RollinOn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: This crap is why we have problems getting what "we" really need. http://homecaremag.com/news/psychiatrist-power-wheelchair-scheme/ Mark Jackson
