Monday, January 18, 2010

The Cost of Dying

My friend Burt sent along this clip of a recent "60 Minutes" story detailing the incredible costs of end-of-life care.

It's a compelling and provocative story, although I don't share the pessimistic view of ICU care that the piece espouses.

Still, great food for thought.



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1 comment:

AJoe said...

Ted,
All I can say is wow. You have been around health care a lot longer than I, but this is something we see and deal with every day we work. There were many issues touched upon in this story, but I think the most notable issue was Americans difficulty acknowledging death. No one wants a loved one to die, but there is nothing wrong with a loved one dying without suffering. There are many things wrong with health care, but the end of life issue could be eased a little if primary care returned to the level of "family" care. I remember my pediatrician growing up and how he didn't just ask me about my health, he knew all about my activities such as school, brothers, and sports too. Even my PCP today takes the time to ask about my family and not just the issue at hand, but that isn't the case for everyone across the country. Primary care has become as cold as some other aspects of health care. I don't think it's outside the lines for PCP's to talk to their patients about end of life issues before it's too late. Living wills are fantastic, but as we can see from this story, they also need to be honored. Death is a difficult issue, but a natural part of life. There is nothing unnatural about it, but it has become such a taboo subject. It is the responsibility of health care professionals to make sure patients know their options before an hyper-emotional medical condition creates irrational decisions. There were many other issues touched upon in this piece too that deal with $$$, but I think that educating patients about death and dying is a necessary and very professional intervention in health care. Thank you for sharing that piece.