It is relatively easy to support limits on futile care in hypothetical situations, but many physicians lack expertise or courage in the application. We have difficulty controlling the misuse and overprescription of antibiotics and and narcotics let alone the greater challenge of accepting death and helping our patients and their families do so. This needs to be a discussion starting at the beginning of medical training.
Loree K. Kalliainen, MD, FACS
St. Paul, MN

Sent from my HTC smartphone

From: Djulbegovic, Benjamin <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, July 15, 2011 8:05 AM
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: solution to health care cost crisis: technical vs.philosphical..

In light of repeated discussion of unsustainable rise in health care costs that is threatening to undermine all other aspects of the way modern society functions, I attached the article from this morning NYT. The author argues that a technical solution to health care crisis is not feasible, but instead a solution lies in the way we deal with our own mortality. Understanding and accepting death as an integral aspect of human life- and hence not clinging to (expensive) medical interventions that are devised to “marginally extend the lives of the very sick” may provide the avenue to the current financial crisis that appears to be largely driven by health care costs.

 

Provocative and intriguing thoughts to which no one can remain indifferent….and I am looking forward to reading further insightful comments from the members of this group…

 

Best

 

Ben

 

 

Benjamin Djulbegovic, MD, PhD

Distinguished Professor

University of South Florida & H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

Department of Medicine

Chief, Division of Evidence-based Medicine and Health Outcomes Research

Co-Director of USF Clinical Translation Science Institute

Director of USF Center for Evidence-based Medicine and Health Outcomes Research

 

 

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USF Health Clinical Research

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Phone # 813-396-9178

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e-mail: [log in to unmask]

 

 

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Campus Address:             MDC02

 

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