Where does Sarah Palin go for her apology on death panels?
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TL;DR
- Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin coined the term "death panel" in 2009, warning of bureaucratic boards deciding on healthcare treatment access in government-run systems.
- Disability advocate Krista Carr reported that disabled individuals in Canada are sometimes unprompted offered medical assistance in dying (MAID) during routine care visits.
- Canada's MAID suicides have increased significantly since legalization, with 16,499 reported in 2024 and a total of 76,475 since legalization.
- The article claims a Canadian has a greater chance of dying by suicide via MAID than an American has of being shot dead.
- Instances are cited where Canadians were offered MAID despite seeking help for non-terminal conditions, disabilities, or mental health issues.
- Canada plans to broaden MAID criteria in 2027 to include individuals with mental health problems and potentially minors and infants.
- The article suggests that governments with universal healthcare may resort to encouraging suicide among the chronically ill, elderly, and mentally unstable to manage budgets and reduce healthcare system pressure.
- Concerns are raised about the fate of individuals with conditions like Down syndrome in societies prioritizing convenience and quality of life, drawing parallels to high abortion rates for such diagnoses in Europe.
- The author posits that governments, like businesses, may cut "assets" that incur more debits than credits, implying a utilitarian rationale for MAID expansion.
- The article criticizes Canadian authorities for focusing on gun-related suicides while MAID numbers rise exponentially.