[quote=eavesdropper]. . . We have to start looking seriously at QUALITY of life, instead of simply looking at the length of it. We have to stop pissing and moaning about not being able to choose our own physicians, and we have to get real about providing painful and disabling 6-figure courses of “treatment” for 85 year-old patients.
You know, I appreciate that family members might be happy that the life of their 90 year-old father was saved by $300,000 worth of surgery, hospitalization, and rehab. I just question if their decision would have been the same had they been compelled to pony up 25% or 50% of the cost from their own personal funds.[/quote]
eaves, I agree with both of these points. I have posted here before that I will NOT undergo chemotherapy if diagnosed with a late-stage (terminal) cancer and if my chances for survival are 50% or less with trying the chemo, I would lean towards NOT undergoing chemo if my last kid was grown. I’ve just seen firsthand what the poisons in it can do to the body. In many cases, it is irreversible damage, even if the patient manages to survive for a length of time. I’m of the mindset that if it’s my time to go, then I want to enjoy what time I have left feeling as well as I can and with my brain intact as long as possible.
I don’t believe in spending $300K (wherever the $$ comes from) to save (or improve) the life of someone of advanced age as you describe here and if this 90-year-old patient had any sense or say in the matter (instead of his well-meaning children or spouse), he probably wouldn’t agree to undergo all of that mess, either. This is just my .02 on the subject.
I remember that prior to the early/mid-70’s, it was expected that kids just passed around and contracted all the “childhood diseases” (measles, mumps, chickenpox, rubella, whooping cough) some multiple times and this is how they acquired an immunity. They almost never saw a doctor unless they needed some Penicillin or their rash became infected. They just stayed home until they were no longer contagious. Many children lost their hearing when their parents discovered, just a little too late, that their measles had turned into meningitis.
I don’t recall of any health plans for children being in existence back then. Heck, I’m not even sure my parents had health plans for themselves!
I recall that diseases for which there were vaccines available (polio, smallpox, tetanus and diptheria) had mostly been eradicated, smallpox almost completely. In many other countries, vaccines either were not yet available or just becoming available.
Yes, we, as Americans, expect so much more in medical services now, whether or not we have the ability to pay for it.
