If you want to hear a passionate of Sarah Palin’s “death panels”, it’s hard to go past the vituperative spray delivered by American news anchor Keith Olberman on his show Countdown. After his father’s colon was removed, he ended up in hospital for six months battling one infection after another. The week before the broadcast, in despair over the treatment, discomfort and pain, he asked his son to kill him.

This made Mr Olberman reflect upon the notion of “death panels” and “these sub-humans who get paid by the insurance companies” to oppose them. In fact, they are “life panels” which give patients and their families control over their treatment. “Nobody gets to say no except the patient and the family. It’s a life panel. And damn those who call it otherwise to hell,” said Mr Olberman.

Whether or not his complaint is fair or accurate, it is excellent television. Have a look. It is an eloquent description of the kind of burdensome treatment which everyone fears. Comments, anyone?