Most blame the doctors, but should the patient and family desire for aggressive care be ignored?
He attributed the aggressiveness of private hospitals in New York simply to the sophistication of the patients and their families.
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I wonder if we’re talking about the wishes of the patient (who may or may not be in a position to voice his wishes) or the family.
Reserach shows that families often push to “do everything” because the thought of losing an older relative–particularly a parent–is so frightening. It’s the last barried between the middle-aged son or daughter and facing the reality of his or her own mortality.
Meanwhile, the patient himself may be tired out, in pain–and may not want to spend his final days tied to a bed in an ICU.(Patients often have to be tied to the bed so they don’t fall out or jump out if they become delirious).
I wonder just how many patients at NYU receive palliative care?
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