Most medical expenses are incurred in the last few years of life. I myself think it is unwise to spend huge amounts of money extending the life of old people who will die in a few years anyway. Perhaps I will feel differently when I am old! On the other hand, my parents and grandparents steadfastly refused heroic treatments, and they made it abundantly clear they would never countenance being hooked up to machines. Despite that, my parents care in the 1990s cost a great deal of money -- much more than it would have in the 1960s or 20s.
Incidentally, there is a recent popular movie that portrays a scene in a hospital in which the doctors refuse to turn off a machine and let a patient die. This is complete nonsense. If the patient is conscious and demands that treatment be withdrawn, the doctors must comply, by law. I have seen it happen, and the doctors made no objection whatever. I have also seen them agree to do nothing more for comatose patients who were dying at home. There were no objections and no pressure whenever -- at least not in Maryland or Georgia. The county did send around a sympathetic nurse who checked the dying patient and wrote down the particulars, such as date of birth, treating physician, disease et cetera, and made some helpful suggestions. It was low-key, sensible, sad but not frightening. Some people demand extraordinary treatment for terminal patients, which I think drives up costs and causes unnecessary suffering. In my opinion these people should come to grips with their own fear of death, and grow up.
- Jed
