It is too bad that this current, long overdue, national “end of life” discussion comes along with the mass hysteria of Nationalized Health, though it was certainly predictable. While no one is advocating putting grandma “down,” the untold truth is that the argument is really not about her but about what the future holds for the baby boomers.
The generation which thrust itself (was thrust?) upon the scene “en masse” in the 40s, which rocked through the 60s and 70s, made its livelihood through the rest of the millennium and into the next, and is currently redefining what it means to be retired, is not going to “go gentle into that good night.” It wants control of its destiny and its final check-out time. Here rests the real, unreported discussion. (The unfortunate fate of grandma and granddad is worse than those of their pets.)
As baby boomers, we have witnessed, if not our parent’s, certainly our grandparent’s final years, month, weeks, days and moments. We know what is currently mapped out for us, based upon the past is not what we want, nor what we will accept. We strenuously object to the current situation, based upon law, religion and medical “ethics” which currently control the checkout lines and blatantly hide the various conflicts of interest and realities, all of which are neatly divided into political sides which dance about the issue.
Laws regarding assisted suicide and even suicide itself, curtail our timely departures when the time comes. Religious confusion regarding death muddies the water; for who among us has ever attended the funeral of a sick, suffering, crippled, agonizing elderly family member, one who has longed to join his or her deceased friends and loved ones and not wondered: “If going to heaven is so great, why the wait, not to mention the wailing and tears of those around us?” Last but not least, who can, in their own mind, justify the conflict of interest between the Hippocratic Oath and the extreme medical expenses, devouring personal and family fortunes, resulting from extreme and/or unnecessary or ineffective medical treatment during the last few months of “extended life?” Do no harm?? Surely this is a convenient, fortuitous culmination of events which mainly profits the medical, pharmaceutical and insurance industries, not to mention the legal profession. I have heard it reported that 80% of the medical expenses for one’s life are consumed in his or her last 30 days. This is insane and we know it. Maybe it is time to revisit 4th century BC and bring the oath up to date and build logical safeguards that prevent the nightmarish dramas people focus upon.
Few states and countries have recognized that an individual’s right to dying and associated quality of life is as sacred a right as the individual’s right to life, liberty and the pursuit (not read as “guarantee”) of happiness. Where this recognition has occurred, countless individuals have not lined up to “dance to the end” on some drug during some episode of depression. In these states, medical professionals and the individuals and their family members faced the eternal truth that physical life is not forever and they plan accordingly. Logic and protection is built into this process. Such planning, except the last and final steps, are allowed and even encouraged in the rest of the country. Yet, due to some detail or another, this planning can be superseded by one organization or another based upon some detail and some “higher principle” not the least of which is amazingly, the religious beliefs of others!
The baby boomers want clear control of their final departure and they want it as timely and painlessly as possible based upon good, scientific information, combined with well justified and unfettered medical input. Tripping to the end is perhaps a final goal. Sitting, semiconsciously, drooling, tied to a wheelchair in the hall of some nursing home for months at $150 a day until that end occurs “naturally” is not in our plan. Such a choice and the freedom to make it must be made available and guaranteed. (Until then, you may have yet another reason to keep your guns.)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
My experience has been that those who protest the freedom to make end of life decision or are hysterical about fictitious "death panels" are themselves afraid of death, or have never watched someone kept alive because their family was afraid to make the hard decisions. I have also seen an individual’s living will over-ridden by one family member unwilling to let go, and the healthcare worker/institution cave for fear of litigation.
ReplyDeleteRecently a friend’s father was diagnosed with metastatic cancer. He had avoided the doctor and the cancer had spread to every organ system. Despite the knowledge that he had only weeks to live, the family and/or doctors insisted on operations and chemo. A fine demonstration of thousands of dollars spent while the family, admittedly, were planning his funeral and the patient refused his meds.
For a society that hails "heaven" as the ultimate happiness, we avoid it like the plague.
While in no hurry to move on I agree with Albus Dumbledore when he said" To the well organized mind, death is but the next great adventure
Sharon
It's interesting that this debate is taking place at this time. Baby boomers, having seen their parents pass on, are now looking the Grim Reaper in the face themselves. Death is a frightening reality that we all face, but it demands more time and thought as the final day approaches.
ReplyDeleteThis is part of the emotional debate taking place over the health care bill. The bill, itself, doesn't mandate death panels; in fact, it does us all a favor and provides money to pay for end of life counselling. What arouses emotions is the fact that the government is the one bringing the subject up. We have been conditioned to distrust the government, so we immediately become wary when it encroaches on our lives. There's that, and perhaps the possibility that by metioning end of life counselling, the government has forced us to face an uncomfortable reality sooner than we might have on our own.