My grandmother, rest her soul, was diagnosed around six years with tongue cancer. This after battling breast cancer for years before that. Upon the doctor telling my mother and her siblings the news of the new cancer, the first words that came out of his mouth afterwards would lead one to be certain of death panels. He said at her age and after battling breast cancer, maybe the best thing would be to do nothing. My mother and her siblings basically told him to go to hell. She had successful surgery and was able to live several more years. She finally succumbed to congestive heart failure. So you tell me tobie, are death panels real? I say yes they are. You may want to consult with Big girl before you respond. I'm sure with all of her infinite wisdom, she will agree with you, that there are no such things as death panels.