I found this article about the choices doctors make in their own healthcare at the end of their lives to be a very fascinating read.
In a nutshell, doctors understand the treatment options available and realize when treatment is futile, so they tend not to opt for anything aggressive or heroic, even though they can afford it. They tend to only get treatments that will work. The result for them is that they have a better quality of life at the end and live about as long as others do. And there is a lot less cost associated with their deaths. Interesting read. |
Really interesting read. Thanks, glatt.
|
3 oldster, at this moment, are saying that Obama is a dictator, that he put in trillions of dollars of debt through his Obamacare, and ask why does the government want to get into healthcare, anyway? Yes, they are all on Medicare. Whoa, one just said that he KNOWS that if he wants to go to Dr. Burger, Obamacare won't let him.
|
Quote:
I once taught a university class on medical ethics for laymen, which had a very broad range of people attending - from physicians to ranchers to mechanics to business exec's and parents. The end-of-life time came up frequently, and the range of preferences was very wide. I do remember the physicians in the class were much in line with your article, as were several of those involved in ranching. Death was not unfamiliar, and quality of life decisions were very important for them. I got a kick out of one person's response at the other end of that spectrum. Her response was an emphatic: "Keep me going no matter what! " She was an executive in a company that made kidney dialysis equipment. By the end of the class, there had been many intimate discussions, and we felt we knew a lot about one another. Some of the debates were quite vigorous... religion, money, legal liabilities, suffering... But I felt there was always respect for each person's thoughts and feelings. At the last class meeting, I provided copies of (Oregon's) Living Will and Advance Directive. I think everyone took copies for themselves and their families. So even the lady above could have made her wishes known confidentially to her family, which is one of the most important things about end of life decisions. Children, in particular, need to know the wishes of their parents. |
I think it is quite interesting that many of the state officials and politicians
that originally fought Obamacare are now changing their tunes. Maybe they explain it on the basis of political pressure, or lowering state budget costs, it probably doesn't matter how they rationalize their actions. The business community, especially "small business" has been pretty quiet til recently. But it looks as tho even they are changing over too. Fredericksburg.com Jim Hall 2/9/13 Health care plans being assessed Quote:
|
2 Attachment(s)
Today was the day ... Now to see what happens by 2014
Washington Post Sarah Kliff 2/18/13 It’s official: The feds will run most Obamacare exchanges Quote:
|
Now the Republicans can concentrate on preventing the Federal exchanges from working.
|
What? You mean sacrifice the health and welfare of constituents for political gain. :eek:
Again. |
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:34 PM. |
Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.