Seniors Targeted with Scare Tactics in Health Care Debate

Joyce Remy, IlluminAge Communication Partners

Senior advocacy groups in the state and nationwide are concerned about the recent effort to frighten seniors with inaccurate claims about health care reform proposals currently under discussion.

This includes misleading statements about a "government takeover" of health care, misinterpretation of end-of-life planning as "euthanasia," horror scenarios about "death panels," claims of health care rationing, and other rumors.

As President Obama himself has said, while healthcare reform details are being worked out, there is plenty of fodder for debate without bringing in irrelevant false information.  

Whether you are for healthcare reform or not, or support one plan over another, the most important thing is to be informed. Here is a selection of recent articles shedding light on the misinformation campaign:

Newsweek: The Five Biggest Lies in the Healthcare Debate (August 29)
Many target the fears, vulnerabilities of seniors

New York Times: False "Death Panel" Rumor Has Some Familiar Roots (August 13)
Reminiscent of viral Internet campaigns that dogged President Obama last year, falsely calling him a Muslim and questioning his nationality.

"Prescriptions" Health Care Blog
New resource aims to make sense of health care debate, separate fact from rumor

CBS: Elderly Have Their Own Concerns on Health Overhaul (August 27)
Separating fact from fiction about health care reform and seniors

National Public Radio: Senior Groups Reject Health Care "Scare Tactics" (August 30) 
A call for reasoned, honest debate; inflammatory claims keep donations coming

In Health Care Debate, Fear Trumps Logic (August 28)
Examines the history of methodology of scare tactics

American Medical Association (AMA): What Editorial Writers Are Saying About End-Of-Life Discussions (August 31)
Addresses comments of Sarah Palin, others, about "death panels"

AARP: Health Care Reform: the Assault on Truth (August 14)
Examines destructive force of misinformation

Kaiser Family Foundation: Side By Side Comparison of Major Healthcare Reform Proposals
Succinct comparison of the leading comprehensive reform proposals will be updated as the situation changes

It is vital that seniors understand what is being proposed—and what isn't. These misleading rumors only stand in the way of true dialogue about one of the most pressing issues of our time.