UPDATED: Isakson: Palin’s ‘death panel’ charge is ‘nuts’

Sarah Palin’s charge that healthcare reform would lead to government run “death panels” is simply “nuts,” Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) said today.

In an interview with Ezra Klein, Isakson said that aspects of the legislation that deal with end-of-life planning have nothing to do with euthanasia.

Here’s the relevant section:

Q: How did this become a question of euthanasia?

ISAKSON: I have no idea. I understand — and you have to check this out — I just had a phone call where someone said Sarah Palin’s web site had talked about the House bill having death panels on it where people would be euthanized. How someone could take an end of life directive or a living will as that is nuts. You’re putting the authority in the individual rather than the government. I don’t know how that got so mixed up.

Q: You’re saying that this is not a question of government. It’s for individuals.

ISAKSON: It empowers you to be able to make decisions at a difficult time rather than having the government making them for you.

Q: The policy here as I understand it is that Medicare would cover a counseling session with your doctor on end-of-life options.

ISAKSON: Correct. And it’s a voluntary deal.

Sarah Palin had written on her Facebook page that the House healthcare legislation would lead to government “death panels” deciding which members of society were productive enough to receive healthcare.

UPDATE: Isakson’s office has clarified that the Georgia Republican absolutely opposes the House bill, including the “end of life language.”

Isakson has offered his own amendment to the Senate HELP Committee bill that would provide for end of life planning, but he argues the House version “incentivises” end of life counseling and provides a government-mandated list of topics.

“The House provision is merely another ill-advised attempt at more government mandates, more government intrusion, and more government involvement in what should be an individual choice,” said Isakson.

Nevertheless, Isakson has not backed away from his comments that the “death panel” interpretation of the bill is “nuts.”