Needed Revisions to Medicare

I am fascinated by the interest in saving Terry Schiavo from "starving to death." I understand the concern because my father starved to death in his own home. He had a stroke and subsequently was told by Medicare that he had to leave the hospital. We (his family) were told that Medicare would not pay for a nursing home because he was considered to be "terminal" and needed only "custodial care." We could not afford to pay for a nursing home on our own so we kept my father at home. He could not walk and didn't know where he was. We had a hospital bed and a hydraulic lift to get him in and out of bed. He eventually quit eating and went from 180 pounds to 80 pounds. No doctor would come to our house to insert feeding tubes. He took on the appearance of a prisoner in a German prison camp during World War II. I could no longer shave him because the bones in his face were too sharp. All of his ribs could be seen clearly. Eventually his feet turned black and he died. He was carried out of his home in a body baq.

In my mother's case, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She was able to get around until about the last two weeks of her life. I could not afford to put her in a nursing home and once again Medicare did not cover her medical expenses because she was "terminal." One evening about 5:00 p.m. she began to throw up blood. I called her doctor who said I should just keep her at home. From 5:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. the next day she threw up blood in a pan and I poured it in the toilet. I finally called an ambulance and she died in the hospital. She had, however, bled almost to death with no comfort from medical personnel. When I came home from the hospital, both the bed where my mother slept and the carpet were soaked with her blood.

My story is not unique. My point is that while Congress in willing to intervene in keeping Terry Schiavo alive in spite of her wishes, they are not willing to help those who need help and comfort in their final days. Medicare must be changed to allow people to have medical care in their final days so that they are not forced to die in degrading and inhumane conditions with no relief for their pain and suffering.