JudoWolf.com

Thirty percent of Medicare costs are used to care for the dying in hospitals. Doctors and hospitals are paid on the number of patients they see and tests performed. Medicare law states physicians cannot refuse care to patients, and our modern technology possesses the capability to keep a person alive indefinitely. Doctors and other medical personnel never speak with a dying patient about their condition but about treatment options and there affects. This has created an atmosphere of immortality with people who will do anything to remain alive. The system is broken and Medicare costs are running out of control and will continue until our society realizes we are born to die.

An 85-year-old lady was admitted to the hospital with kidney failure and end stage heart disease. She was visited by twenty five specialists who ran their own tests, which included a Pap Smear (does an 85 year old need a Pap Smear), a psychiatric consult for depression (her response I’m dying what do you expect), and no one spoke to her about stopping treatment. Most terminally ill patients die in the hospital on machines, even those who have living wills and health care surrogates.

The fear of dying and modern technology along with the physician’s attitude of curing is pervasive in society. Living as long as possible is the goal and family’s lack of letting go has caused dying to rule the bulk of the Medicare budget – resulting in more spending on the dying rather than the living.

Hospice is the only institution in the country, which assists patients who are dying, alleviates their pain, and gives them a choice of dying at home. There are Hospice Houses, which admit patients if there are no family members or the care at home overwhelms the loved ones. There is no testing or life-extending measures as these houses emphasis keeping patients’ pain free and comfortable; yet the new health care bill is cutting their budget. The country needs more Hospices and a renewed dialogue among physicians and other medical professionals regarding the way society views death. This conversation must take place soon or the dying will bankrupt the Medicare system.

With kindest regards, Judowolf