Has anyone else ever had this feeling? I had a patient that was so old that they had dementia, couldn't walk, couldn't talk, couldn't even feed themselves. The patient had hip surgery. Don't get me wrong, I do my job, but all the while I'm thinking why the heck am I taking care of someone like this in a hospital? Why doesn't the family just let this person die? I truly don't believe that this individual has any quality of life. Why not have some kind of rules as a society that says if you are so old that you can't get around, can't even roll yourself over in bed or care for yourself, or understand the world around you and what others are trying to communicate to you, and no hope of getting better, then your only option is hospice? Am I the only person who thinks that would be a good idea? I'm not suggesting to put a rag over their face and suffocate them. I'm just saying let them live their life, whatever time they have, without any significant medical interventions that will undoubtedly extend their time and suffering for years.
People are afraid to die, and people are also afraid to lose loved ones. But shouldn't a society that is severely over burdened with the cost of medical care draw the line somewhere? Just because we can extend the life of someone, doesn't mean it's always the proper thing to do. Comments?