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Tragic. My friend in Canada says 80% of medical spending is in the last 20% of the lives of Canadians. I read a similar story a few years ago,probably from HN,
by employee8000 10y ago
Tragic. My friend in Canada says 80% of medical spending is in the last 20% of the lives of Canadians.
I read a similar story a few years ago,probably from HN, about a woman whose husband suffered a severe stroke. While he was in the hospital, the doctors told her he needed a pacemaker. Without thinking she said "of course" but she unknowing extended his life by 10 years because of this error. And he only got worse to the point where she wished he would die, which made her feel even more guilty. A truly horrible situation that no one should be put in, but we are because we have the technology and the misbegotten notion that everyone should live, even st the expense of life.
- pkolaczk 10y agoThe problem is that you often don't know what the state of the patient is going to be in a year, two or five, after the treatment. My grandma is 88 now. A few years ago she had serious issues with heart, blood overpressure, and electrolyte balance and and a few other things which made her look and feel like half dead. Some doctors didnt give her any chances, some said she wouldn't walk anymore, or some said she would stay in the hospital till the end. After a few years of trial and error in the treatment, multiple stays in hospital, they finally found a way to "fix" all the things. Now she feels and behaves like she was 60. Her quality of life went 10 levels up. She takes care of herself, goes out, meets people, tells jokes, etc.
- jessriedel 10y agoSure, but I think from context that employee8000 is talking about a stroke so severe that there was no chance the husband would have a significant recovery.