You have uncovered the strategy for balancing future government health care budgets.
Unfortunately, you are probably right.
It's what almost happened to Barbara Wagner:
(From the Oregon Register newspaper. Do click here to see Barbara's joyous face!)
"After a rough couple of weeks, Barbara Wagner finally got some good news Monday.
"Last month, she found out that her lung cancer, which had been in remission for about two years, had come back. After her oncologist prescribed a cancer drug that could slow the cancer growth and extend her life, Wagner was notified that the Oregon Health Plan wouldn’t cover the treatment, but that it would cover palliative, or comfort, care, including, if she chose, doctor-assisted suicide.
"Then, on Monday morning, a representative of the pharmaceutical company called Wagner and told her it would provide the medicine for free. Wagner said she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, so she did both.
“I am just so thrilled,” she said. “I am so relieved and so happy.”
"Wagner had to rely on the charity of a drug company because the Oregon Health Plan wouldn’t cover her treatment.
"“I think it’s messed up,” Wagner said, bursting into tears.
"She was particularly upset because the letter of denial said that doctor-assisted suicide would be covered."
It's not like we haven't been predicting this for 40 years.
Assisted Suicide, Public reaction #1: "It would be good for some people. What's the harm?" Public reaction #2: "This is terrible. How were we to know?"