Changing the cultural view and coverage of end-of-life care

Abstract

Since the mid-60s, the trend has been for treatment to stand at the forefront of medicine and when death occurs, it is seen as a failure of intervention. Institutional deaths are far greater today for the elderly and terminally ill patients than prior to the Medicare era. The safety, comfort, desires, and mental/spiritual well-being of the patient (and their family) are often lost in the attempt to treat rather than comfort. The cost of end-of-life care continues to spiral out of control (along with the rest of health care costs), yet there has been very little impact on longevity in spite of all the technological advances. A change in attitude is needed to properly provide and pay for end-of-life care.