I agree that many patients are not ready to deal with the end-of-life issues. Over 50 billion dollars are spent each year on the medical care for the patients in their last 2 to 3 months of life. The goal is not to stop providing care for the dying patients, but to provide adequate care.
The goal is to avoid any unnecessary tests and procedures that do not change the outcome or benefit the patient in any way. Most of the patients would prefer to die at home, yet many patients spend the last days of their lives in ICUs on a life support.
Many physicians do practice defensive medicine and would prefer to avoid any confrontation with the patient or the family on the end-of –life issues and the code status. A change in our legal system and Tort reform could change this.
I agree that many patients are not ready to deal with the end-of-life issues. Over 50 billion dollars are spent each year on the medical care for the patients in their last 2 to 3 months of life. The goal is not to stop providing care for the dying patients, but to provide adequate care.
The goal is to avoid any unnecessary tests and procedures that do not change the outcome or benefit the patient in any way. Most of the patients would prefer to die at home, yet many patients spend the last days of their lives in ICUs on a life support.
Many physicians do practice defensive medicine and would prefer to avoid any confrontation with the patient or the family on the end-of –life issues and the code status. A change in our legal system and Tort reform could change this.