First thing that’s wrong with the sfgate link: “She once told you that no matter what happenED, she wants to live.”
This is problem #1. The patient is coming in with unrealistic expectation. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENED. under this Directive, if she is completely comatosed and unresponsive, the Hospital NEED to continue her care.
And a lot of hospitals DO, and there lies the problem. WE now have the ability to keep folks alive for an indefinite amount of time. Absolutely we do. The pressure is down, no worries, doctors add one presser after another, sure multiple pressers might induce gangrene of fingers, but if that means to preserve the blood pressure, it can be done. Respiratory failure? no, worries, ventilator care has been perfected to an art form. What about the heart? there’s always a pacemaker. Add a feeding tube, some fluids, stick in a catheter for your bladder and bowel needs, you are all set to LIVE NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.
And this kind of care is done, especially at places like Cedar Sinai and UCLA where the super-rich go. You want this type of care? go for it, just not on my dime.
for every couple of articles from the “lifers” I can show you ten articles that demonstrate Hospice is way under-utilized. The average patient on Hospice care is there for less than 1-2 weeks. In reality if Hospice was utilized the right way, it should be 3-4 months.
The articles make it sound like doctors are rushing to put folks on Hospice. In reality, it is the other way around.
