RIGHTS: S. 1993 is wrong

The Patient Right’s Act, S. 1993, now in Senate committee, will thwart abortion, POLST/Advanced Directives, and Assisted Aid in Dying. It will force hospitals to push advanced technology (Full Code) from conception to grave or else the hospital(s) will be penalized for one year in not receiving Medicaid/Medicare funding, which will shut them down.

Advanced technology cannot fix the demented brain, but can bring on dementia through prolonged general anesthesia, ICU and chemo. To force the frail elderly, especially demented. Through unwanted surgeries and rehab is cruel. Most elders don’t want to become “live donors” to fuel the medical coffers or be “warehoused” in a notoriously understaffed (unsafe) facility costing $90,000-plus a year or end up on Medicaid (65% currently) in a facility with recovery costs passed on to adult children as collateral once the Filial Recovery Act is activated (ready to launch in 30-plus as states run out of money).

The Patient’s Rights Act is opportunistic greed and a political backlash against current laws. Contact your senator NOW; say NO to S. 1993.

BEVERLY MONTGOMERY

Newburg, Ore.