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Confessions of a Drug Pusher YOUR LIVING WILL A MUST!
About 200 concerned Arizonians at the Crowne Plaza on Saturday, March 25, 2006, were there to express their opinion about the crisis in Healthcare that exists in the US. After some introductory remarks by two of the Healthcare Board members, we started to learn that they wanted us to vote our opinion on a number of subjects. Healthcare costs will double to $3.6 trillion dollars by 2014. Insurance premiums are growing four times as fast as wages. What was not stated is that brand-name prescription drug prices are growing three times the rate of inflation and that 70% of all healthcare expenditures are end of life costs within the last six months of life.
A recent survey done by a Dr. Christakis of Harvard Medical School to the members of the Citizens Healthcare Council disclosed some startling facts: About 70% of the Americans interviewed stated they wanted to die at home. Only about 15% do. In addition, 96% wanted to know what to expect in the dieing process. Only 15% get the facts. Also, 95% think that having a doctor that listens is important. Some where between 30-40% think they have that kind of physician. This not small change. Rather than building more brick and mortar high-cost hospitals, a shift to hospice settings alone would do wonders for reducing healthcare costs in the US. What is needed is commitment by the physicians who run our public and private institutions to make a commitment to better educate physicians to handle the end-of-life period, as well as to reduce the over treated and the over-medicated environment that currently exists. Have a living will. A living will allows you to provide instructions to your family and doctors, regarding the use of life sustaining medical treatment or procedures, should you have an incurable injury, disease, illness or condition and you are unable to express your wishes with regard to treatment. [See below how to get free forms.] Many states provide them free. They may be available in some states from the Attorney General's office. Fill it out and sign it. Make copies of the living will and give it to your loved ones. They also have to be given to the medical professionals who treat you. It is up to you to convey what your wishes are. Tell your loved ones what your wishes are. It’s a good idea to carry one in your car’s glove box. There are a lot of things wrong with the delivering of healthcare in the US. We don't need to reinvent the wheel if we as a society would just start tackling one issue at a time. This end of-life-issue alone cost the healthcare system about 25% of the total bill more than it should. It is up to us as individuals to understand what we can do. Taking control of our health is key. For more information about the need for a living will and links to free forms, go to http://www.suddenlysenior.com/terrischiavo.html and http://www.suddenlysenior.com/links2.shtml A Florida Living Will can be downloaded from the Suddenly Senior site at http://www.suddenlysenior.com/freedownloads.html. Retired but not senile yet! Copyright © 2006 Thomas Braun Legal Stuff: Permission is granted to all to reproduce this document in whole and redistribute to all that are as concerned as I about the future of our Medical system that has so many superior attributes that is operating under needless dark clouds of distress. Disclaimer - This document is informational in nature. Medical advice should be secured through your physician.
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A century ago, the end-of-life experience took place in the home of a loved one. There were no heroic efforts to extend life, nor was the medical knowledge there to prolong the suffering of the dying. 