In my Dad’s case, would it have been better to live out the remainder of his short time on this mortal coil at home surrounded by family and friends or how he in fact died, in a hospital, racked in pain and in constant discomfort arguably made much worse by his medical treatment. Perhaps the doctor believed he was following his oath to do no harm. The oncologist assumed that Dad and our family would want to fight the cancer no matter how remote the chances of success. The cancer had progressed extensively and the chances of chemotherapy being effective were all but nil.
In Dad’s case, cancer was diagnosed just 30 days before his death. It is in stark contrast compared to my own experience with the medical community during my own father’s death and dying. Gawande is taking with end of life decisions to be refreshing.
With the supportive hospice therapy she received, she had already lived for a year.I find the approach Dr. Nonetheless, when she was transferred to hospice care, her doctors thought that she wouldn’t live much longer than a few weeks. In terminal illness that means focusing on objectives like freedom from pain and discomfort, or maintaining mental awareness for as long as feasible, or getting out with family once in a while-not on whether Cox’s life would be longer or shorter. Hospice deploys nurses, doctors, chaplains, and social workers to help people with a fatal illness have the fullest possible lives right now-much as nursing home reformers deploy staff to help people with severe disabilities. We’ll sacrifice the quality of your existence now-by performing surgery, providing chemotherapy, putting you in intensive care-for the chance of gaining time later.
In ordinary medicine, the goal is to extend life. The difference between standard medical care and hospice is not the difference between treating and doing nothing, she explained.
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