http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2014/10/end_of_life_medical_decisions_atul_gawande_book_excerpt_on_no_risky_chances.single.html
Panel Urges Overhauling Health Care at End of Life - NYTimes.com
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/18/science/end-of-life-care-needs-sweeping-overhaul-panel-says.html?emc=edit_th_20140918&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=25414714
A Father’s Last Wish, and a Daughter’s Anguish - NYTimes.com
A Father’s Last Wish, and a Daughter’s Anguish - NYTimes.com
It is a bit concerning hearing that a panel of experts covering fields ranging from religious leaders to nurses concluded that end of life care should be overhauled at every level in the nation. End of life care isn't something that I think about on a very regular basis but I would have liked to think that at least some aspects of it would have been determined to be acceptable. The most interesting thing I took from this article was its discussion on wanting Medicare and other insurers to cover the cost for having conversations about advanced care planning. This seems like it would be a huge step in the right direction towards solving some of the end of life care problems. To be able to develop some sort of a plan would have to be beneficial to both the patient and the physicians. While such plans may not always work out as planned it would at least get the patient thinking about what they would want when they are going through the dying process.
ReplyDeleteAn interview with a doctor who would give up medical care after age 75.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/doctors-argument-living-longer/
Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel has a very interesting philosophy. While I don't agree with every single statement he made in this interview, I can definitely agree with the main point he wanted to get across. By age 75, most people have accomplished what they have set out to do in their lives. They’ve held a steady job, been married, had children and grandchildren, etc. But I don’t think life is all about what you want to accomplish by the end. Towards the end of life, I think, comes the time to remember and appreciate the life you have been given. Most people don’t truly appreciate things until they slow down and soak it all in. I would want just a few more years to reflect.
DeleteDr. Emanuel relies solely on statistics in predicting his own experiences with aging. I understand why he would do so, seeing as his profession deals with statistics and "odds are" situations on a daily basis. He is very literal and practical in his thinking, which I respect. But personally, I would hold the outlook that the outlier could always be you.
The article about the Father's wish and the daughter's agony is heartbreaking. My grandpa actually lived with us when I was younger and died in our living room through hospice. I completely understand where he is coming from wanting to be at home and with familiar things. It's said that money and politics with Medicaid and Medicare is keeping him from being able to be at home. I understand that to a point Medicaid and Medicare are limited. But it seems like in his case, the rehab and hospital stints are only making things worse. It just seems like more could be done for him as well as others in his situation to have a more peaceful end of life experience.
ReplyDeleteMeghan, I also feel that more could have been done for this man. Money seems to rule every aspect of life, and it's unbelievably frustrating to see that money was the deciding factor in when and where he would die. Like you said, Medicaid and Medicare are limited. But keeping this man at a nursing home for that home's profit, when all he wanted to do was go home...that just does not sit right with me in any way.
DeleteFirst off the Father's wish article is one the saddest things I have ever read. At the same time this seems like a reality nowadays. People go to hospitals to die. No longer die in their homes in peace with family around. The costs are so astronomical for end of life care but at the same time I'm sure many families feel guilty if they don't try all the care they can afford. This story was almost surreal, as it made it sound as if the doctors and nursing homes were bossing around this lady and her father, basically dictating where he was going to die. I hope at the end of my life whenever that is it does not have the same characteristics as this story. I haven't had any experience with something close to that with one of my family members nor do I know of any of my friends family members having this type of experience of being bossed around by doctors.
ReplyDeleteCraig, I have not personally dealt with a situation like this either. But I definitely agree with you that I do not wish to encounter something like this, whether it is in my own death or the death of a loved one. Losing a loved one is hard enough, and having to play a game of musical chairs with different facilities would make the situation much harder than it should be.
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