Are burdens of dying worth benefits of extended life?
People don’t die like they used to die. They live longer with illnesses that progress while technology keeps them alive. Questions are asked about taking the technology too far or not far enough. Family members argue about extending loved ones’ lives as the inevitable approaches. Some question if the burdens of dying are worth the benefits from extending life. Can death be wrestled to the ground and lose to earthly inventions? What about cost factors, legalities, and societal impacts?
As the population ages, there will be a 50% increase in cancer cases over the next 20 years. With more and more technical advances, older adults with advanced cancer, their caregivers, and healthcare providers are confronted with circumstances in which medical advances may inadvertently extend dying and suffering rather than bring healing.
Continue for more information and a video featuring Dr.Ira Byock, palliative care physician and chief medical officer of the Providence Institute for Human Caring.
http://hospiceandnursinghomes.blogspot.com/2014/11/ethics-of-dying-video-218.html
Happy endings,
Frances Shani Parker
Replies
Frances,
Atul Gawande's book, Being Mortal, Medicine and What Matters in the End, covers this in great detail. His video on the HCF about this book is quite informative as well.
Happy Holidays!!
Greg