These simplistic, knee-jerk, and emotional responses are useless in the discussion that has to be had about a person’s “right” to health care. The CBS piece was timely, as I for one am tired of putting in breathing tubes and feeding tubes into dying patients who want “everything done”.
Fact is, far too many people keep Grandma alive because of familial guilt or worse; collecting Granny’s Social Security check for instance. It’s an obscenity to God and man.
No one is talking about denial of care, though as a physician, I am not obligated to provide futile care.
Smoke? No exercise? How many pills do you pop? What’s your diet really look like? The vast majority of chronic illnesses are self-inflicted. New research is showing you CAN turn off cancer genes. Oh, and have “that talk” with your family NOW, before the sad days we all face.
FlynnMD
So, then, I’m confused...you are, on the one hand, saying that the patient and family should have the talk and make the decision. On the other hand, your tired of putting in feeding tubes into dying patients who want you to. But if someone is asking you to continue treating them...isn’t that someone who has weighed the options and is choosing to continue to fight?
What it seems you really want is the right to, as the doctor, make that decision for the family and patient. The hell with the patient that wants everything done. If you, as the almighty doctor decide that its futile, then thats the opinion that counts.
So it really comes down to your definition of futile, doesn’t it, and who gets to make that call? I dont know you, so I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt that you have good standards and would be somewhat careful with those standards...how long until someone else moves the yardstick? I’m sorry, but if I am sick, or a member of my family is, I dont trust the doctor to make that decision more than myself of my family.
You are concerned about the familial guilt and greed over granny’s social security check. Okay, what about the opposite, wanting to off granny before she uses up all your inheritance money. Is that any less grotesque? Yeah, I know grandma said she wanted everything done, but this care is costing so much, and gee I’d like to pay off my mortgage. If the scenario of keeping her alive for the social security can be true, and it may be in some cases, then surely the opposite could be true as well.
You ended by suggesting we have that talk before the sad days...but in the eyes of the CBS special and apparently you, we could have the talk all we wanted...but our opinion shouldn’t be the final say...so why have the talk at all?