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Originally Posted by raveneye
...I haven't looked recently at the statistics, but isn't it true that, on average, something like 99% of a person's lifetime health costs are paid just before they die?
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I believe that the famous saying you are refering to is: The last six months of your life are the most expensive.
This is true because our society has not accepted the fact that the human body fails, and that everyone dies. To come to that point, you must accept that you are mortal, and every second on this earth is precious. This line of thinking takes work. It is hard. It causes pain. It smells bad and tastes worse.
It is easy to put off things for a later day.
When we look at the elderly or terminally ill, we see mortality that is unavoidable. We transpose our desires for more time, more resources into that situation, and therefore take heroic measures when palliative stages occur.
What kind of doctor would I be if I told every elderly patient "You are wearing out, and are going to die. I would accept that fact if I were you, and enjoy life. You don't need cancer treatment, you need a vacation and a big fat doobie."
What kind of doctor would I be if I told young patients the same thing? I would get my liscence pulled, very fast.
Instead, we play the "I'm going to live forever" game and research technologies that help us delay the inevitable. These technologies are expensive, and we gladly pay because of the pain and mess that we delay. It comes eventually, but we give ourselves time to adjust.
Yes, I am in a particularly philosophical mood today; I stubbed my toe when I got out of bed, spilled coffee on my last clean shirt and slept through my alarm clock.
I misplaced my ID badge and my MP3 player, and when fretting about where they might be I locked myself out of my idling vehicle.
Student Loans phoned to remind me that I had 9 years left to pay, and I feel like I am coming down with a cold. I looked at the calendar and realized that my next day off is Christmas Eve;
My lunch plans fell through, and it is just too much work to make alternative arrangements.
I am thinking that a philosophical approach is the best way to go today, because if I don't accept the current situation I am in deep trouble.
