Monday, February 21, 2011

US end of life suggestion - one terminal drug dose per person

Every US citizen gets an electronic prescription for a terminal drug dose, one time only (associate with SSN; maybe have IRS track).

Maybe one has to be over some age to fill it.  It's OK to sell it (black market) but if one does, one then only has access to 'ordinary' health care.  (One round of chemo, one hip replacement, ... )  No exceptions at all for second round of prescription.  Indeed some hardship.  And yes, risk that teens could access these.  Of course risk that people incompetent to choose would indeed choose.  Yes, subject to abuse, influence.  But overall, puts choice in the hands of the individual with way less risk and cost than current situation.  Very American.  Very autonomous.  Completely simple.

1 comment:

  1. Great idea! And legalize all drugs for the same reasons. Utopian? Of course. Will it happen tomorrow? Of course not. Especially in a society where policy is based on superstition rather than science. That is very American too. But any change has to start somewhere. Thanks for throwing out this radical, smart idea.

    "Faith is knowing what you believe ain't true."

    --Mark Twain

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