House Republicans: we believe in a small federal government, specifically a government that believes that individual states know what is best for their citizens and a federal government that would not interfere with the opinions of an industry's experts (because "government in Washington, D.C., doesn't know better than experts and the citizenry") especially in the case of doctors (their case for "tort reform": we should leave the practice of medicine to doctors and patients rather than legions of trial lawyers). Right?

Oops.

Speaking of physicians...

Remember how Senate Majority Leader Bill "Long Distance Diagnosis" Frist (R-Tenn.) convened the United States House of Representatives to override the authority of the state of Florida as well as the medical diagnosis of doctors who were within 100 miles of the patient based on his own diagnosis that Terri Shiavo "certainly seems to respond to visual stimuli."

Really, Doc?

The autopsy was released yesterday not only confirming that Ms. Shiavo was in an irreversible and persistent vegetative state (the very diagnosis Sen. Frist and Rep. Tom "Clean Hands" Delay (R-Texas) rejected) but also revealing that Ms. Shiavo was blind.

Unfortunately, we will never hear an apology to the family for exacerbating the difficult situation. Nor will we hear an admission of, "I was wrong." Not from this group.

UPDATE: Sen. Frist this morning came as close as he likely will to acknowledging his error, saying of the medical examiners, "The diagnosis they made is exactly right. It's the pathology, I'll respect that. I think it's time to move on." Funny...that's what the judicial branch and the American people told you and your fellow Republicans back in March.
- posted by C @ 6:19:00 AM