28 December 2010
The End-of-Life Counseling Debate
It is not the role of government to change citizens’ opinions. Nor is it the role of the medical profession to persuade patients to adopt a reasonable attitude towards the extension of life beyond the point at which it is pleasant and affordable. Both of these institutions perform a service to their clients; and the customer is king. The issue of end-of-life care is rightfully the concern of independent opinion leaders who are not compromised by their power to tax or their skill at preserving life.
It is evident that American culture now incorporates the belief that the wonders of science can be mobilized practically to avert at least one of life’s inevitable fates—death. However, Americans are confused when they believe that the point of health care is to prolong life. Its real objective is to allow humans to achieve as fulfilling an existence as they reasonably desire by eliminating as many medical impediments as possible. A balance must be struck between the expense of alleviating sickness, particularly chronic disease, and the chances for attaining a fulfilling life, both on an individual’s cost/benefit scale and on society’s as a whole.
If we are to manage the cost of our health care system, our democratic society must be convinced that wellness and long life are not identical. This can be a difficult distinction to make; but once it is broadly accepted and removed from the political debate, the looming bankruptcy of our health care system could be brought to an end.
It is not the role of government to change citizens’ opinions. Nor is it the role of the medical profession to persuade patients to adopt a reasonable attitude towards the extension of life beyond the point at which it is pleasant and affordable. Both of these institutions perform a service to their clients; and the customer is king. The issue of end-of-life care is rightfully the concern of independent opinion leaders who are not compromised by their power to tax or their skill at preserving life.
It is evident that American culture now incorporates the belief that the wonders of science can be mobilized practically to avert at least one of life’s inevitable fates—death. However, Americans are confused when they believe that the point of health care is to prolong life. Its real objective is to allow humans to achieve as fulfilling an existence as they reasonably desire by eliminating as many medical impediments as possible. A balance must be struck between the expense of alleviating sickness, particularly chronic disease, and the chances for attaining a fulfilling life, both on an individual’s cost/benefit scale and on society’s as a whole.
If we are to manage the cost of our health care system, our democratic society must be convinced that wellness and long life are not identical. This can be a difficult distinction to make; but once it is broadly accepted and removed from the political debate, the looming bankruptcy of our health care system could be brought to an end.
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