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Ezekiel Emanuel No 'Doctor Death'

Reform opponents grossly distort bioethicist's record

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 11, 2009 10:09 AM CDT
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(Newser) – To hear conservative bloggers tell it, Ezekiel Emanuel, Rahm’s brother, is a bean-counting euthanasia enthusiast who wants to deny care for the disabled. The New York Post dubbed him a “deadly doctor,” and Sarah Palin warned supporters to fear his “Orwellian thinking.” It’s pretty ironic, writes Alex Koppelman for Salon, because Emanuel is one of the country’s top medical ethicists, and staunchly opposes even voluntary euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide.

“Legalizing euthanasia … would be of no benefit,” Emanuel once wrote. “It would be a way of avoiding the complex and arduous efforts required of doctors…to ensure that dying patients receive humane, dignified care.” A much-quoted Post op-ed takes many of Emanuel’s other statements out of context, implying that, among other things, he supported “communitarianism,” or reserving care for the able-bodied. In context, Emanuel explicitly said he was only examining, not defending, the philosophy.

Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, special adviser for health care at the Office of Management and Budget, speaks at the American Medical Association's annual conference in Washington, March 11, 2009.
Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, special adviser for health care at the Office of Management and Budget, speaks at the American Medical Association's annual conference in Washington, March 11, 2009.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, special adviser for health care at the Office of Management and Budget, speaks at the American Medical Association's annual conference in Washington, March 11, 2009.
Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, special adviser for health care at the Office of Management and Budget, speaks at the American Medical Association's annual conference in Washington, March 11, 2009.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, special adviser for health care at the Office of Management and Budget, speaks at the American Medical Association's annual conference, March 11, 2009.
Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, special adviser for health care at the Office of Management and Budget, speaks at the American Medical Association's annual conference, March 11, 2009.   (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 11 comments
kokuaguy
Aug 11, 2009 7:54 AM CDT
Citrixguy = Mouthpiece of Insurance Execs + Wall Street Healthcare Investors
Timinator2K
Aug 11, 2009 5:13 AM CDT
Ezekiel Emanuel: Architect of the American "Humane & Dignified" Final Solution for the Elderly, Conservatives and ANYBODY else who does not bow down at the false messiah's feet.
piyrwq
Aug 11, 2009 5:01 AM CDT
Salon, since 1995, writing principled articles inline with the beliefs of the majority of Americans (whom elected bho).

 
assisted suicide • euthanasia • rationing • health care reform • Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel • medical ethics

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