Sebelius: Talk of 'death panels' is scare tactic

[August 17, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama's health secretary says it's a "horrific" twisting of the facts to say that "death panels" are part of a health care overhaul.

Kathleen Sebelius says opponents of the administration's health overhaul are using scare tactics to try to derail an overhaul. She says that claims the government would set up death panels to rule on life-sustaining care for ailing older people are wrong. In her words, "nothing could be further from the truth."

Sebelius says end-of-life planning is an important conversation and should take place before a loved one's final days.

Sebelius appeared Sunday on ABC's "This Week."

[Associated Press]

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