Older cancer patients being written off instead of treated
Jan 24th 2014, 3:24 am
#1
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Older cancer patients being written off instead of treated
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2...ts-not-treated
Guardian link but it seems to be on every news feed.
I am not sure what the phrase clinical needs means, it would have been easy to say without regards to age or life expectancy.
I am both older and have cancer deaths in my family tree, but rationally how could you justify spending limited resources without taking into account outcome?
Guardian link but it seems to be on every news feed.
Dr Mark Porter, chairman of council at the British Medical Association, said: "It is important that all healthcare professionals ensure that patients are treated on the basis of their clinical need.
"With an increasingly ageing population, it should be a key part of medical professionalism to guarantee that older patients are treated with the care and respect they deserve."
"With an increasingly ageing population, it should be a key part of medical professionalism to guarantee that older patients are treated with the care and respect they deserve."
I am both older and have cancer deaths in my family tree, but rationally how could you justify spending limited resources without taking into account outcome?
Jan 24th 2014, 3:29 am
#2
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Re: Older cancer patients being written off instead of treated
I think by say by 80, I am not sure why money is spent to try and extend life, at 80 one has already had a full life, and any medical care will only provide a small amount of extra time.
I just dont understand spending hundreds of thousands for a 80+ year old. My uncle had heart surgery at 85 and racked up hundreds of thousands in bills, and died less then 11 months later, seems like a total waste of money and resources to extend a life not even a year.
I just dont understand spending hundreds of thousands for a 80+ year old. My uncle had heart surgery at 85 and racked up hundreds of thousands in bills, and died less then 11 months later, seems like a total waste of money and resources to extend a life not even a year.
Jan 24th 2014, 3:40 am
#3
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 8,106
Re: Older cancer patients being written off instead of treated
Taken to the (il)logical extreme we should just give up treating disease altogether because it's a waste of resources and weakens the gene pool.
Jan 24th 2014, 3:41 am
#4
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Re: Older cancer patients being written off instead of treated
I think by say by 80, I am not sure why money is spent to try and extend life, at 80 one has already had a full life, and any medical care will only provide a small amount of extra time.
I just dont understand spending hundreds of thousands for a 80+ year old. My uncle had heart surgery at 85 and racked up hundreds of thousands in bills, and died less then 11 months later, seems like a total waste of money and resources to extend a life not even a year.
I just dont understand spending hundreds of thousands for a 80+ year old. My uncle had heart surgery at 85 and racked up hundreds of thousands in bills, and died less then 11 months later, seems like a total waste of money and resources to extend a life not even a year.
Jan 24th 2014, 12:37 pm
#6
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,393
Re: Older cancer patients being written off instead of treated
Our family is noted for living to well into their 90's. However, if I were diagnosed with cancer at age 75 or upward, I would want to be able to get the best cancer care I can get if that were my choice. I should always come down to choice ... the patient's choice, not the medical profession.
Jan 24th 2014, 12:50 pm
#7
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Re: Older cancer patients being written off instead of treated
Our family is noted for living to well into their 90's. However, if I were diagnosed with cancer at age 75 or upward, I would want to be able to get the best cancer care I can get if that were my choice. I should always come down to choice ... the patient's choice, not the medical profession.
Jan 24th 2014, 12:59 pm
#8
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Re: Older cancer patients being written off instead of treated
Our family is noted for living to well into their 90's. However, if I were diagnosed with cancer at age 75 or upward, I would want to be able to get the best cancer care I can get if that were my choice. I should always come down to choice ... the patient's choice, not the medical profession.
If something isn't done that allows the patients and patient's families to make medical decisions instead of the medical profession, then maybe Paul Ryan's plan to push about 50% of the cost of Medicare to Medicare recipient's is the only viable solution.
A good example of that is the brain dead child where her mother is making medical decisions instead of medical personal.
Last edited by Michael; Jan 24th 2014 at 1:03 pm.
Jan 24th 2014, 1:03 pm
#9
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Joined: Oct 2003
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Re: Older cancer patients being written off instead of treated
I think by say by 80, I am not sure why money is spent to try and extend life, at 80 one has already had a full life, and any medical care will only provide a small amount of extra time.
I just dont understand spending hundreds of thousands for a 80+ year old. My uncle had heart surgery at 85 and racked up hundreds of thousands in bills, and died less then 11 months later, seems like a total waste of money and resources to extend a life not even a year.
I just dont understand spending hundreds of thousands for a 80+ year old. My uncle had heart surgery at 85 and racked up hundreds of thousands in bills, and died less then 11 months later, seems like a total waste of money and resources to extend a life not even a year.
Jan 24th 2014, 1:09 pm
#11
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Re: Older cancer patients being written off instead of treated
My dear, beloved grandmother, who passed away the 1st of February last year, would have still been kicking around her own house at 98 years old, had she not had a heart attack that forced the decision of living in an assisted living facility. Till the day she died she was very lucid and was a very lively and funny person to talk with.
Jan 24th 2014, 1:32 pm
#12
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Re: Older cancer patients being written off instead of treated
My dear, beloved grandmother, who passed away the 1st of February last year, would have still been kicking around her own house at 98 years old, had she not had a heart attack that forced the decision of living in an assisted living facility. Till the day she died she was very lucid and was a very lively and funny person to talk with.
Jan 24th 2014, 2:02 pm
#13
Mouthy Yank
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 2,229
Re: Older cancer patients being written off instead of treated
My FIL and MIK worked until they reached retirement age. They have paid their taxes and should have the right to all healthcare that is available to them. Perhaps treatment should be withdrawn for people who haven't worked and have been a drain in society, or terminally ill people, or new immigrants, or even returning expats who haven't paid 'X' years of taxes...where will it end.
Jan 24th 2014, 2:08 pm
#14
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,393
Re: Older cancer patients being written off instead of treated
That is the way it is in the US but end of life treatment is currently about 25% of the Medicare expenditures and pushing the US cost of health care way above other countries.
If something isn't done that allows the patients and patient's families to make medical decisions instead of the medical profession, then maybe Paul Ryan's plan to push about 50% of the cost of Medicare to Medicare recipient's is the only viable solution.
A good example of that is the brain dead child where her mother is making medical decisions instead of medical personal.
If something isn't done that allows the patients and patient's families to make medical decisions instead of the medical profession, then maybe Paul Ryan's plan to push about 50% of the cost of Medicare to Medicare recipient's is the only viable solution.
A good example of that is the brain dead child where her mother is making medical decisions instead of medical personal.
If I am 75, diagnosed once again with breast cancer, am advised that surgery and chemo will give me at least another 15 years to live, I'll be damned if I will allow some medical professional or healthcare personnel tell me that I am too old for the treatment.
I can see if a person is bedridden, in their 80's and needs to have a hip replacement. Why do it? They are not walking now (fell while someone helped them out of bed to change sheets) so a hip replacement is useless. Or being listed for a kidney transplant when you are in your 80's and have a heart condition.
Each situation is different. I can't see a medical reason why the child who is declared brain dead should be kept alive for more than 6 months. Or the pregnant woman who is being kept alive because of the fetus and the fetus as been shown to be adnormal.
Each situation should be judged individually by the patient, the patient's family and the medical community.
Jan 24th 2014, 2:18 pm
#15
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Re: Older cancer patients being written off instead of treated
