NYT reader suggests lowering health care costs by offering 'death with dignity

In what might be the most depressing letter-to-the-editor in today's New York Times, one reader says he's open to controlling health care costs by being allowed to check out early; meaning, euthanasia.

The letter comes in response to a column by former Obama adviser Steven Rattner in which he argues that costs can be lowered by limiting the types of care the elderly receive.

From the letter:

Steven Rattner wants to reduce medical costs by not offering “every treatment, regardless of expenses or efficacy” in the last year of life. That’s reasonable — if and when we give the elderly (I am one of them) the right to choose their own gentle death, something that many religions would obstruct.

But even before we get to that, let’s consider the 76 million baby boomers who are or will be retiring and will drain Medicare. Would they be willing to join me in choosing death with dignity? Or would they prefer heart transplants at 85?

[New York Times]