President Obama wants to be the last president who tried to settle America's healthcare debate ("I am not the first President to take up this cause, but I am determined to be the last." Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/09/obama-health-care-speech_n_281265.html). The cause he is talking about has already been introduced on a blog published on this site. I am writing about it today because this morning I read the story, "Firm cancels health insurance coverage for girl, 17, after celiac disease diagnosis" in Chicago Tribune (http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/chi-thu-problem-briana-rice-sep17,0,771811.column). It opened my eyes to what I had started suspecting for some time. What if when I or a loved one has to be admitted to a hospital, we rush to it because the doctor said so, and suddenly find ourselves facing this dilemma - pay $100,000 because your health insurance company just tanked on you (a situation I'd like to call - make a financial  "Dealth Plan" for your family) or die (face the invisible "Death Panel" because the hospital can't treat you even though you and your family happen to be in the wealthiest country of the world).

I am no hardline Democrat or Republican. I understand both parties' compulsions to dance on the lobbyists' tunes since money plays such a big role in our politics. But the above situation Can indeed happen, and to me That sounds an alarm in my mind.

I think it is time for us Americans to ask for a simple thing from both parties - get us a moral and logical system that guarantees us our right to good healthcare. Period. And as you set yourselves to doing it, Please abstain from mindless rhetoric about Death Panels et al. Look at the hole we find our president in because of such rhetoric. Apart from the nitty gritty details of the various healthcare proposals on his table he has to also make sure that his Death Panels are appropriately built. As some people would have you believe, one of his major tasks as our president (in addition to Afghanistan and Iran) is to ensure that your Granny is killed soon after due diligence in his Death Panel.

Well, as our earlier blog said, the President's plan (http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/health_care/plan/) does not talk about Death Panels (and yes, by the way, he was born in this country). It talks about Plans for End of Life instead. I think that is certainly something I would like to do. Especially so after reading about that 17 year old girl.

If I were to be told by my doctor that I'd not live beyond six months, I would get busy planning. If I didn't, I should. There would need to be financial planning, estate planning, hospice planning, legal planning, etc. etc. And above all, planning to bid goodbye. To meet the loved ones with this new found knowledge. Like Robert Frost had said in his poem, "miles to go before I sleep..."  (http://quotations.about.com/cs/poemlyrics/a/Stopping_ByWood.htm).

In thinking about this issue, it started to assume so much importance (with  a growing scare) in my mind that I decided to blog about it. I must start my Death Planning. I will share my findings with you as I go, but perhaps my first job is going to be to find a nice sound bite to replace "Death Plans". It would be below my dignity to share the boat with the likes of Sarah Palin.