President Obama Implies Support for Health Care Rationing...But Avoids Using the Word

(Minneapolis/St. Paul) - Today, Citizens' Council on Health Care (CCHC) releases an analysis of President Obama's statements and responses during the televised ABC News health care forum at the White House on June 24, 2009.

Twila Brase, president of CCHC, releases the following statement:

"President Obama's statements imply strong support for health care rationing even though he never used the word. If the President's preferred health care policies become law, there will be so-called 'experts' and others outside the exam room deciding who gets what medical treatment and who does not, as well as which medical treatments will even be available to patients. (Page 6, response to Jane Sturm)

"Under undefined terms like 'appropriate care' and 'necessary treatment' and 'evidence-based care,' it's clear that President Obama's plan would limit patient and physician control over private medical decisions. (Page 3, response Dr. John Corboy)

"The President's comments on end-of-life care are of particular concern, implying deep reductions in access to care for the elderly. (Page 6, third response to Charles Gibson)

"Americans should think twice before letting government 'reallocate' health care dollars. The plan to 'reallocate' dollars is actually a plan to federalize health care dollars and health care decision-making. (Page 9, response to Pastor David Hattenfield)