Christine O'Donnell - Chris Coons Debate: Healthcare reform, for or against?

Democrat Chris Coons supports the Obama healthcare reform bill. Yes, he said, "It's not perfect, there's problems with it, but rather than turning it back and going through another year of two of partisan bickering ... I would stand for it and implement it."

What about malpractice liability limits and the fact that Democrats are close to trial lawyers, who are often big donors. Would you support malpractice reform? Coons is asked.

No, he said, because people have the right to seek redress, whether it's financial or "a medical procedure that went horribly wrong. I don't support caps on medical liability. ... I frankly think that's an important part of the American legal system."

Republican Christine O'Donnells responds: "This healthcare bill has caused costs to skyrocket. You say it's partisan bickering, but one out of four Democrats have gone on record saying they oppose this bill. ... Uncle Sam has no business coming in the examination room, coming between you and your doctor."

Coons bridles: "That's a great slogan, you toss it around wherever you go."

O'Donnell replies that the healthcare bill "gives the government the ability to say what kind of treament a doctor can and can't do, what kind it will fund. ... This healthcare bill has cut Medicare."

-- Robin Abcarian

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Photo: Nancy Pelosi and President Obama congratulate each other after healthcare reform legislation is signed into law. J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press

Comments

[Cal J.]

I am with the majority of the American people. We do NOT want to be Europeanized...Hell the Europeans don't even want that. This overblown, beauracratic monstrosity that is also un-Constitutional (something called the 10th Amendment) and just a plain BAD IDEA...is NOT what we want. What we NEED is: Choice of Providers (Nationwide), and we do need Tort Reform. Nancy "The Stretch" Pelosi said it best..."We have to approve it, so we can know what is in it." This is the height inanity, and so is this stupid bill.

[Mike]

In respect to Employer mandates, it appears from www.BenefitsManager.net and www.AHealthInsuranceQuote.com analysis that employers nationwide will be assessed a $2,000 penalty for every employee not offered group health insurance or commonly referred to employer sponsored health insurance. Does this include part time employees that traditionally didn’t qualify or buy health insurance in the first place because of the cost vrs. Hours worked? How in the world is an employer going to absorb this cost? So if an employee doesn’t want to participate in paying their share, the employer is penalized $2,000?

[MsC]

So Christine O'Donnell believes the government shouldn't interfere in a patient's medical care? Glad to know she is in favor of a woman's right to choose!