Topic: End Of Life Care

Reports suggest that HCA Healthcare staff may be pressuring families to move patients into hospice care to improve hospital mortality statistics. By moving terminal patients to hospice, their deaths are not counted against the hospital's quality ratings. This practice raises serious ethical questions about the prioritization of business metrics over patient care.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius appeared on Sunday morning talk shows to discuss end-of-life care measures within the healthcare reform debate. Critics argue these measures are cost-cutting tools, while Sebelius characterizes them as personal family discussions. The hosts criticize her for failing to provide direct answers to interviewer Jake Tapper.