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title: Latest Lie: “Death Panels By Proxy”
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* [Politics](/section/politics/)

# Latest Lie: "Death Panels By Proxy"

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by 

[TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/)

Sep 27, 2009 4:17 PM UTC

by 

[TIME Staff](https://time.com/author/time-staff/)

Sep 27, 2009 4:17 PM UTC

There they go again. Now that the “death panel” lie has [snookered](http://theplumline.whorunsgov.com/political-media/poll-nearly-half-of-americans-believe-death-panel-falsehood/) nearly half the country, the Washington Times is going for the other half in [an editorial](http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/25/death-panels-by-proxy/?feat=home%5Feditorials) headlined “Death Panels By Proxy.” Cue the scary music for this one:more

---

> “”

---

My question: Has anyone at the Washington Times actually talked to a doctor lately? Under the current system, lots and lots of people are showing up at physicians’ offices with _no insurance at all._  And do you know what these medical heroes are doing? By and large, they are treating them anyway. Doctors I have spoken to tell me that it is not at all unusual for them to be writing off 10%, or 20% or even more of the care they give, because their patients simply can’t afford to pay their bills. 

So now, the Washington Times would like us to believe that these very same doctors will suddenly start cutting their patients off, sending them out to die, simply to earn a little more money. 

Yes, this provision is designed to encourage doctors to think a little more about what kind of treatment is most effective, and to cut back on the waste and overtreatment that [experts say](http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2007/0710.brownlee.html) account for 30 cents out of every dollar that is spent on medical care in this country. But to call these “death panels by proxy” is simply fear-mongering.

What’s more, the Times is wrong when it suggests the Finance Committee bill puts no focus on quality. In fact, it gives doctors incentives they don’t have now, especially in the management of the chronic illnesses that have been such a factor in driving up health costs. [This](http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2009/09/delivery%5Fsystem%5Fday%5Fchris%5Fjenn.html) from former Clinton Administration health adviser Chris Jennings (via Ezra Klein):

---

> “”

---

Okay, not as sexy as “death panels by proxy.” But it does have the virtue of actually being true.

**MONDAY UPDATE:**  In this morning’s Washington Post, Lori Montgomery has [an interesting story](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/27/AR2009092703277.html) on the Medicare debate, which includes this bit of historic background:

---

> “”

---

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