"I think there should be a discussion in this country about what is appropriate care ... with more thought and more concern about both the human and the economic cost," she told the Senate Finance Committee.

Referring to her own health care plan, Hillary explained:

"If we do this health care reform right [we can] create the kind of security we're talking about so that people will know that they're not being denied treatment for any reason other than it is not appropriate, it will not enhance or save the quality of life."

Mrs. Clinton hinted that she thought that even patients who were not necessarily terminally ill should be denied life-saving treatment - citing the case of a 92-year-old cardiac patient:

"The hospital administrator of a very large hospital came to me as a part of a group visiting, as a delegation brought in by the member of Congress," she told the Senate. "And he said that he had recently asked one of his cardiac surgeons why the cardiac surgeon had admitted a 92-year-old man for a quadruple bypass."

Clinton continued:

"And the cardiac surgeon had said, 'Well, because he was referred to me by the cardiologist who refers me all of my cases, and I didn't want to say no because he might send his cases to another cardiac surgeon.'

"And the hospital administrator said, 'Well, do you think it was medically appropriate for you to accept this surgery?' And he said, 'No, it wasn't appropriate or necessary, but that's the way the system works.'"

Editor's note: