If people could see what we see don't you think they'd see things so differently?

[Vtachy1]

http://zocalopublicsquare.org/thepublicsquare/2011/11/30/how-doctors-die/read/nexus/

If people saw the suffering and the pain that so many treatments like chemo and stem cell transplants cause long term horrid side effects, don't you think they would opt for so much less invasive and costly procedures.

Long ago people never lived through all these diseases and they died much more peaceful deaths.

[DixieRedHead, ASN, RN]

There are so many, many things worse than death.

[33762FL]

Long ago people never lived through all these diseases and they died much more peaceful deaths.

Well yeah, long ago when there was no treatment they didn't live through the disease because they died from it very quickly, and on average people died much younger than we do today. I personally am happy that advances in science and technology have prolonged our lives and enhanced the quality.

As for cancer treatments, the risk and benefits should be explained by the MD and each patient should make their own decision about it, which is the status quo.

[CompleteUnknown]

It is up to the doctors to explain the side effects and then for the patient to decide. There are many factors at play obviously so the answer will be highlt variable...

True, but unfortunately the patient usually doesn't really KNOW. It's like what was said in the article, when most people say 'do everything' what they really mean is 'do everything that's reasonable'. There is a huge difference between the two.

From what I've seen on this board (and I could be wrong but I've seen it said over and over), it seems that medical professionals in the US are very reluctant to come out and say no we're not doing that, it's futile.

I expect my doctors to tell me if they think a proposed course of action isn't going to do any good, and I also accept that if it's futile or not in my best interests, they have the right and the responsibility to refuse to do it. Do no harm and all that.

There's also the problem of medical professionals not really explaining the effects of procedures and surgeries properly. Who hasn't been told 'this might be a bit uncomfortable' and then afterwards thought 'uncomfortable my foot, that HURT'? 'There may be some nausea following the chemotherapy' or 'it may be a little difficult to get your 95 year old mother with sepsis off the ventilator' is not the truth!