Silicon Valley Would Rather Cure Death Than Make Life Worth Living

Re:Silicon Valley Would Rather Cure Death Than Make Life Wor... by atemerev on Saturday March 25, 2017 @10:47AM (#13955904)

The entire domain of palliative care (save for the rarest of exceptions) is designed around a single purpose: siphoning money from the relatives overwhelmed by grief and therefore unable to take rational decisions.

The last thing we need is increased funding of this particular circle of hell and its beneficiaries.

For the evidence of the contrarian way, observe how doctors choose to die.

Silicon Valley is right — death itself is the ultimate enemy to push away and finally conquer. And palliative care is usually nothing more than prolonged suffering.

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Re:Silicon Valley Would Rather Cure Death Than Make Life Wor... by medymed on Saturday March 25, 2017 @11:05AM (#13955998)

Usually pain control and comfort are the purpose. The financial effects are similar to what happens in other fields of medicine, not specific to palliative care. Seeing people die with extreme anxiety and inadequate pain control might change your mind.

Also, switching someone to palliative care protocols often involves DNR/DNI, CMO, no transfer to MICU, etc, which reduces peri-death interventions and costs. Would enjoy hearing your opinion though.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Silicon Valley Would Rather Cure Death Than Make Life Wor... by jbdistaken on Saturday March 25, 2017 @03:51PM (#13957238)

I'm sorry if you had this experience with palliative care for your relatives; it really doesn't have to be that way and hasn't been my experience. In fact, low quality PC in your area may reflect that the industry there is ripe for innovation.

[ Parent | on HN ]