excerpted from: Its OK to Die - Does the use of aggressive and expensive medical therapies, that extend the dying process, serve the personal welfare of the patient, his or her family, or the welfare of our nation? ...the current approach to handling end-of-life medical care is not solely responsible for the financial mess this country is in. No one should think that emergency rooms or nursing homes are draining this country dry of tax dollars. There are many contributing factors, including the fact that we, as a society, have chosen to extend all possible medical options to those who are elderly or terminally ill. Where do the “Denial of Death” and the “Bankrupting of America” come together? Because Americans are generally “in denial of death,” we tend to use the most expensive and aggressive technologies in an attempt to fend off the death of an individual. In the end, the person still dies and society literally “pays the price.” It seems ethical, reasonable, and rational for us to ask a personal question with public and political implications... But if you discuss your wishes for your end-of-life care with your family and make your own arrangements for your funeral and other aspects of your passing, your family will have little to wonder and worry about. The communication and discussions that are an integral part of end-of-life planning directly lead to a reduction of the suffering your family might experience. It is normal and natural to mourn a loss, but why make that worse by not having adequate end-of-life planning? I can foresee the day when, aside from being idetified as a funeral home, the facility will also carry the tag: Certified End-of-Planner. Boomer demand will enable this shift. Were entering the era when the focus of life will be to reconcile with our denial of death such that families truly get to where they need to be. Doctors think their job is to ensure health and survival. But really it is larger than that. It is to enable well-being. And well-being is about the reasons one wishes to be alive. Those reasons matter not just at the end of life, or when debility comes, but all along the way. --- Atul Gawande: BEING MORTAL. Copyright © 2014
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 01:03:27 +0000
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