The Totalitarian Theories of Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel
Monday, August 31st, 2009In the Opinion Page of the August 27th issue of the Wall Street Journal, Betsy McCaughey has carefully catalogued Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel’s unfortunate rantings and the dangers that lurk in his concepts. I am urging everyone I know to read the article (go to the opinion site at www.wsj.com to which I have linked). One must question the ethical and moral pinnings of a physician who spews these detestable ideas. In his hoped for depraved society, infants, young children and the elderly would be disposable objects, not worth the time and money required to obtain quality health care. It is frightening to realize that this dangerous man is President Obama’s close advisor on health issues.
Dr. Emanuel dismisses the Hippocratic Oath, which has been the core value guiding physicians for 3000 years. The Oath reminds doctors to do no harm and focus on the care of the individual patient. A patient is in a unique position ––– he or she, when ill, comes to a doctor in a vulnerable state. So, that patient must have complete trust in the competence, honesty and moral fiber of that physician. For that patient to be uncertain whether the physician’s recommendations are offered because of a sociopolitical agenda promulgated by social engineers in Washington destroys trust and corrupts the patient-physician relationship, the basis for humane and successful medical care, and indeed the very essence of the Judeo-Christian ethos.
We must all vigorously resist and condemn Dr. Emanuel’s utterly abominable theories and make certain they do not become part of any so-called health care “reform” plan.