Healthcare's drain on society - Why do we do it?
So, I have this uncle, who's been behind a desk most of his career, in a government job. He's been retired for 18 years. 80 years old, double-dipped the system for 15 years, maintaining two homes and lot of travel. He's heavy, out of shape, does nothing but stumble around the mall and the restaurant, if he's not sitting in his recliner at home sipping a beer or downing a plate of chow, while his wife eats his ear from across the roof in her nagging, piercing voice.
He hasn't contributed crap to society in ages, has one kid who lives 600 miles away, who only comes home when she's guilted in to it. He has had 3 major heart or arterial surgeries in the past three years, at a world renouned clinic, spent months in the nursing home and home healthcare.
He hasn't had to pay a dime out of pocket.
Now I'm all about living as long as you can, but why are those who's lives are hardly worth living being extended at ASTRONOMICAL expense to the public? I think if you've saved your money and have the opportunity to blow your kids inheritance by giving it to the hospital, that's your right. Buy why should the rest of us be obligated to carry your ass into oblivion when you didn't even have the decency to put a couple of handholds on your throne?
So, is there a point in time where the productivity of the patient should dictate the amount of money spent on keeping them alive?
What role does your pension promises, medicare/medicaid, government/private, and your own self discipline play in the mix?
So, I have this uncle, who's been behind a desk most of his career, in a government job. He's been retired for 18 years. 80 years old, double-dipped the system for 15 years, maintaining two homes and lot of travel. He's heavy, out of shape, does nothing but stumble around the mall and the restaurant, if he's not sitting in his recliner at home sipping a beer or downing a plate of chow, while his wife eats his ear from across the roof in her nagging, piercing voice.
He hasn't contributed crap to society in ages, has one kid who lives 600 miles away, who only comes home when she's guilted in to it. He has had 3 major heart or arterial surgeries in the past three years, at a world renouned clinic, spent months in the nursing home and home healthcare.
He hasn't had to pay a dime out of pocket.
Now I'm all about living as long as you can, but why are those who's lives are hardly worth living being extended at ASTRONOMICAL expense to the public? I think if you've saved your money and have the opportunity to blow your kids inheritance by giving it to the hospital, that's your right. Buy why should the rest of us be obligated to carry your ass into oblivion when you didn't even have the decency to put a couple of handholds on your throne?
So, is there a point in time where the productivity of the patient should dictate the amount of money spent on keeping them alive?
What role does your pension promises, medicare/medicaid, government/private, and your own self discipline play in the mix?