Maybe all these efforts to extend life greatly affect the "quality of life" for many people.
For centuries people just died. And though they might not have lived to be 80, yet at least they died at home and without tubes in them, or spending the last months of their lives having blood drawn often and going through a barrage of exhausting x-rays & other tests.
And the sick people were allowed to stay in bed and rest, while the healthy doctor came to the house. It all made much more sense.
Now those who are ill (even terminal) have to get out in ALL kinds of weather and go to a clinic/hospital where there are many, many other sick people (and germs). And to top it all off, they have to pay huge sums of money to do this! (Either through years of insurance payments or writing them a check, they're gonna pay.)
Medical advancements and professionals have helped many a person--I don't mean to take that away from them. The "system" though seems to be in need of major changes.
"Bryson City Tales" is about a young doctor going to Bryson City NC and learning a lot of those same things. He mentioned that the old doctor there told him how the patients did much better when operated on in their houses. The author is now affiliated w Focus on the Family, I believe.
http://www.zondervan.com/Books/Detail.asp?ISBN=0310241006