Doctors Choose A Different Way To Die Than The Rest Of Us

[xchrom]

http://www.businessinsider.com/doctors-choose-a-different-way-to-die-than-the-rest-of-us-2012-2

Doctors will do anything to keep some patients alive, but they take a different approach when it comes to their own lives — knowing the limits of modern medicine, most would prefer to die peacefully.

RadioLab recently discussed the paradox in a podcast called "The Bitter End." They refer to a 2003 report, published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, that asked older physicians about their preferences related to treatment at the end of life. The study was led by Joseph Gallo, currently at Johns Hopkins University.

"Physicians have a clearer understanding of the health states others may only imagine," the study authors wrote, "and may have considered what they would want for themselves in such circumstances."

The chart below, republished from the report, makes it clear that most doctors would prefer to die without medical intervention (indicated by the black bar).



Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/doctors-choose-a-different-way-to-die-than-the-rest-of-us-2012-2#ixzz2qeWagpM0

[safeinOhio]

1. Take me to a vet,

I want to go like my cat did. Peacefully and pain free.

[bemildred]

2. Yeah, totally.

I had her in my arms, 5 seconds, she is out, ten she is gone. But you and I are not worthy of that.

[get the red out]

4. I agree

I am grateful for the dignity we can give our pets in the end, but am at a loss to understand why we can't choose the same for ourselves. It's immoral IMO.

[bemildred]

3. "Lots of good drugs at the end" to quote my now deceased brother. nt

[tridim]

5. So doctors want synthetic heroin to address symptoms...

and people like myself want to explore things that actually encourage health, even at the end of life.

Check.

Once again I disagree with "modern medicine" and their by-the-book, impersonal conservative methods. Hey doctors, your creativity doesn't have to die just because you have a big house and a large bank account.