On Dying and the American Medical System

Posted by Duncan June 23rd, 2010

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Dear all,
One of my seniors in residency passed this article along to us from the NY times. The author describes her struggles with her parents and a medical system ill-equipped to help people live their last days in a fashion in keeping with their beliefs and aspirations. It reminded me of so many of my patients during internship for whom the medical system just refuses to let die a humane and dignified death. In our noble search for cures, we so often do harm to vulnerable people at the ends of their lives. I am also reminded of my dad. He died in his sleep of the sequelae of a condition– congestive heart failure– that doctors could have treated and kept him alive for some time, but living a lifestyle that was not compatible with his spiritual and philosophical beliefs. He refused such a fate. The last year of his life, he continued to run, spend time with us, see patients, and attend conferences on spirituality. We went on an amazing spirituality retreat together just before I started college, two months before he died. That week was a truly blessed, and I will carry it with me for the rest of my life. While it took me, then at 18 years of age, years to forgive him for his rejection of the medical system, at the end of internship and having seen the violence we doctors do to people, I have come to accept and respect his position.

The piece is definitely worth reading:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/magazine/20pacemaker-t.html?ref=magazine&pagewanted=all

Entry Filed under: General

1 Comment Add your own

  • 1. Mahendra  |  June 24th, 2010 at 8:03 pm

    A very touching story, little dramatized I think, but over all story that we deal with everyday. There is a flip side to it where, doctors and patient are ready to go peacefully, but here comes daughter from California, who has not seen dad or mom for many years and out of guilt or whatever they want all possible treatments to be done.
    I don’t feel it is fair to accuse doctors as usually they will go with the decision made by patient. Majority of us try their best to provide caring care to our patients.
    Thanks Duncan.
    Mahendra

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