The Cost of Dying: End-of-Life Care

Many Americans spend their last days in an intensive care unit, subjected to uncomfortable machines or surgeries to prolong their lives at enormous cost. Steve Kroft reports.

[@shelbyburns1531]

Before my Dad passed away the hospital said without putting him on life support and in the ICU he would die within hours. He was 88 years old and although I wanted so much for him to stay, I know this would not be what he wanted. We had talked about this many times before he became ill. I signed a DNR and was there when he passed away. This was his right, and I honored his wishes. This may have prolonged his life but it wasn't going to make him better.

[@amyrockon1]

I truly wish more doctors would have honest conversations with patients and their families. People deserve to know the truth about their condition and realize that while we all hope for miracles, reality must be respected.

[@leobear1390]

At some point keeping a person alive is worse than letting them die. I mean sure they'll technically be alive if they're on life support in the ICU, but there's a difference between being alive and actually living.

[@prof2yousmithe444]

LEO, Just a piece of information. I spent six weeks in ICU in 2015 in a medically induced coma. I will NEVER be able to pay just that one bill off. NEVER. Yet, I am alive and contributing to society. We can keep the body alive for years. However, the doctors should NEVER, EVER, be given the rights to pull the plug on me, you, or grandma. I apologize if this looks harsh. I do not mean for it to be. I am sick and tired of doctors playing God deciding on who lives, and who dies. Thanks!

[@snakebitmgee]

I will not die this way. When my time is near, I will take whatever strength I have and disappear into the desert mountains. There will be no funeral costs or medical bills. No one will see me suffer. My carcass will never be found.

[@zolushka4823]

nice plot. Only you never know when it might come for you and where. You might not have enough time to get to desert....when I was dying I was drifting in and out of counchiousness.

[@snakebitmgee]

Alexandra L Well yeah, there is that scenario also. But if all goes according to plan, I'll do it my way.

[@xxxxfile]

amen

[@josephromo1059]

snakebitmgee My Dad always says when he feels his time. He will go for a long walk in the woods to. When he does we will not go looking for him.

[@RandomVidz690]

Lol okay bud

[@mariesmith599]

Husband and I are going through this right now. In January her old pacemaker was ending and they had to put in a new one on an 87 year old woman. I looked at my husband and said well you just gave her 10 more years. Me having a medical background could not understand why when she had other problems too. CHF, COPD, Cellulitis, and various other vascular illness. Diabetes, A spot on her liver and in the 3d stage of kidney failure. We were able to get her to agree to DNR, and now she is getting hospice within the nursing home. There can be drawbacks depending on age, religious belief and naturally the family has to agree with everything as well. We are now keeping mom comfortable and not letting her be probed and prodded.

[@cornfed123567]

im not talking about suicide, im talking about just letting yourself go peacefully rather than fighting the inevitable.

[@DaveSeavy]

I know one person who won't be dying in a hospital. Me. I'm terminally ill with esophageal cancer, and I have an iron-clad advance directive and living will. Hospice is doing a great job, and I will die at home.

[@JeffreyQProductions]

I hope for your sake you're correct. Advance directives, regardless of what's written on them are legally supposed to be ignored by EMT (at least in Utah, don't know about other states.) Only a POLST is a legally binding document in the home. What I'm getting at, if one of your relatives gets cold feet and doesn't want to let you go and calls 911, the emt's will come in and attempt to resuscitate you regardless of what your advance directive says. Again, in Utah, don't know about other states. If it's the same, get a POLST by your primary physician and make sure your family members know damn well you mean it to be honored. I'm a registered nurse in an ICU. I see these kinds of situations on a weekly basis. Best of luck to you.

[@matrixkernel]

My Dad died at home with hospice. But it was incredibly hard caring for him. He and our family suffered together to the end.

[@beckyhoyt4244]

Freaking unreal! There is no end to greed once it starts. The most helpless suffer the worst offenses to soul, body and senses! May God help us all😔

[@cathyras]

I am glad I live in Oregon so that if something were to happen to me I and my family can decide what measures to take and if my life should be ended. I hope this is not going to happen for a long long time. I am also very healthy but you never know one minute you are fine the next you are not.

[@eltonjohn3236]

For people interested in this subject, watch "Being Mortal" on PBS. Planning prior to death makes so much more sense. Some of the last days are very painful and with few positive outcomes.

[@josephromo1059]

I want the Dallas Cowboys to be the Pallbearers at my funeral.......So they can let me down one last time.

[@buddyrebel_Garcia]

Joseph Romo lmao

[@nenblom]

Good one!

[@stevekennedy5380]

Haha. I like.

[@betty5064]

All you need is a "Do not resuscitate" order, signed on your record.

[@silviab.850]

Unfortunately, here in Italy it's not possible.

[@littlephlox8255]

If I got to choose how I die, I'd want to lay down in a beautiful field with flowers on a warm, sunny day. I want to be surrounded by my spouse, friends, children, and pets. It would be very peaceful. Birds swinging sweetly and softly, the scent of roses and cinnamon in the air, and a few final kisses to my loved ones.

[@abjectio]

“At the present time, it’s their (the patient’s) right to decide.” The doc seems to imply that he envisions that decision being made by drs or insurers, independently of the patient or their family. That’s a scary first step on a very slippery slope.

[@mamafee228]

As a nurse working in Skilled Nursing facilities, I see families all the time letting mom/dad suffer because they don't consider quality of life.

[@KaliElaine]

very touchy topic. Ethically. Very hard talk to have with patients, I see people suffering to die its pretty sad.

[@michaelhunter1093]

It's all about BLEEDING u DRY of ALL YOUR MONEY

[@stevekennedy5380]

Part of this phenomenon is because many people do not want to admit that life is vain.

[@1swordpen]

Finally someone tells the story any physician or nurse knows.Why is this a mystery to the general public? Stop confusing life with delaying death through prolonged suffering.Yes I do object to the cost to us the taxpayers for futile care because of denial or ignorance on part of the patient or their families in obvious terminal illness.

[@annebeck58]

@TwistedZionism I agree with you, one-hundred percent! If I have a long-term illness that IS going to end my life, PLEASE let me go-- let me stay HOME, and let's not leave an insane bill, for my kids OR for the goverment, either.

[@jomichat1975]

Americans are not the only ones facing end of life costs. I live in New Zealand and I'm lucky enough to be covered with Private Medical Insurance . However, I happened to see an itemized bill of a small procedure I went through. I couldn't believe what the hospital was charging. ie: a single band aid $25.00 etc... I personally believe that the problem lies with the Hospitals making a real "killing". Literally.

[@RAZUUTUBE]

How many sufferers saved with life support yet!!!! And how many children dying just for food in this planet!!!

[@goivanijony8002]

Razib Chakraborty fuck the planet worry about your own country

[@brandonhyatt2048]

I'm not worried about "the planet". The US needs to worry about the children here!! Oh and the Veterans who fought for this country but are being placed on the back burner and told to "just deal". So nope, I'm not worried about anybody else on the rest of the planet.

[@claregb2324]

I'm an end of life carer for people in there own homes much. better for the client and there family.

[@nenblom]

“Every man dies. Not every man really lives.” Mel Gibson as William Wallace in “Braveheart.”

[@missmarie693]

The US spends over $8000 per capita on healthcare, the highest by far in the world. However, the US doesn't have the highest life expectancy, not even close. US is #35. Japan on the other hand has has the second highest life expectancy in the world and only spends about $3200 per capita on healthcare. We're bankrupting our country and not even improving the quality of life, or lifespan of our citizens by doing so. We need to look at smarter ways to fund healthcare and readjust our cultural attitudes toward healthy living and death.

[@maia4674]

It’s mostly the fact that we have horrible diets compared to the Japanese who eat veggies and healthy meats. They are also 100% more active and aren’t rampant with drugs. So...not our healthcare.

[@JJTownley_Classical-Composer]

4:43 So what in the hell good is it to sign an advance directive/living will stating you don't want extraordinary measures taken to prolong your life if it's just going to be routinely ignored by the medical establishment when they can get more money from the government simply by denying your request? Even when you expressly state, "I don't want my life artificially prolonged" the Dr's are going to say, "We don't care what you want. We're going to do what WE want." It's a nightmare scenario.

[@ceciliapreziose3783]

so Dr. Kevorkian was right!

[@rodolforamirez6118]

How can the doctors/hospital violate the medical directives and not face any criminal and civil charges.? The lady declared that she was not interested in extraordinary measures as she was already dyeing. Can hospitals be sued for breeching a contract under medical directive guidelines? I have oncology clinic guided end of life directives. Must I worry that these directives will be ignored as I move into hospice care? I am a widower without children, who is there to advocate for me?

[@josephsimoncurran9994]

This is very unsatisfactory given how much is left unsaid. If you want to compare with other industrialised countries' budgets you also need to note healthcare is generally funded within them in a very different way to the USA (none of the health systems are perfect but the differences have to be considered if you want to make comparisons). Also what are the broader implications of the argument here? - how will they impact on those with disabilities who need significant healthcare spending to stay alive and who may often frequently be judged close to death? E.g. a chest infection in someone with a significant disability could well be fatal and so they could be deemed terminally ill in that case, yet may respond well to treatment and live for many years after. This is a very difficult and serious subject, but the treatment here is too flippant and alarmist to really deal with the complexities

[@zolushka4823]

+Pauly69s I don't know about which hospice you are talking about when you say "they'll treat you nicely" I've seen such awful care as an employee of an elderly home, I wanted to cry. I hope those people didn't understand the "treatment" they were getting and it was an upscale elderly home with hospice. Please don't say "there's nice care there" I've seen stuff that it's scary to remember.

[@hgnaz]

I definitely agree with you. I've seen it first hand.

[@TicTacMI]

The in-home hospice that came to see my grandmother pretty much all day were very nice and knew what they were doing. It worked out really well for her end of life plans.

[@skandakumar2457]

only way to die is at home surrounded by loved ones

[@annebeck58]

@TwistedZionism Yes; I have had a living-will and DNR, for years now. I probably need to update it but both of my kids know my wishes and, though my son likes it less than my daughter comprehends it. it is what it is and they would carry them out. (I am putting off something, right now, because I don't want to deal with docs who want to CUT.. I know, not right-- in a way, but I'll decide what I want when I decide it.) I actually liked most of this, but some could have been left out.

[@beverlyseward6918]

I believe that in a lot of situations it's a selfish act because they can't let go so they allow the terinally ill to suffer. Sad situation and also no one wants to responsible for them taking their last breathe.

[@michaeld8443]

People live their whole life and expect to be treated when needed. I don't care on the cost

[@johnthegreek7356]

FREE HEALTH CARE IS A RIGHT NOT A PRIVILEGE

[@AURORABUS]

Outrageous. I went to the ER- they insisted on a lung x-ray. My blood gas (blood saturation) was 97 out of 100. Why give me an x-ray? CRAZY! I said no. And then the attending physician gave me a very hard time.

[@NickanM]

Linda DiFeliciantonio Rocca *Well, in the er they took my blood gas and it was also 97. Until 5 minutes later when I crashed with no heartbeat att all, suffering a double massive lung embolism. The fact that I was IN the hospital saved my life. I would never have survived in any other place. And I was 34 years old.*

[@zangolli1963]

I agree.

[@Xylodrums105]

I could have believed this again, though now I know why we can't die: our lives are snarled!

[@DavidWilliams-zu6bw]

Most are afraid to die as well as their family members who want their "98 yr old grandma saved!" Death is just part of this life.

[@4dchessplayer516]

They should of let Anikin Skywalker die but NOOOOO

[@shakellw4634]

It’s so unnecessary I’m terminal and I’ve made it known no life support

[@goodshipkaraboudjan]

Quite a sentiment, ever seen someone dead from a gunshot wound? How many paramedics, cops etc do you think might have the image stuck in their minds of someone well enough that took their own life intoxicated? I can assure you, join the military if only to see how traumatic and brutal the effects of a gunshot wound are let alone a shotgun. It's going to be tough on those that have to clean up your mess. A great sentiment, but live well until the time comes.

[@wendybodino115]

it my not mean anything to you but to the person and family it may

[@burningexperience6031]

I hope the doctor respects that when im dying of old age give me two weeks no anything more pull the plug. This is my plea.

[@sobserver]

Instead of interviewing or presenting information from the independent reviewer who agreed the tests were 'typical' and not 'extreme', they interview a family member who have no apparent expertise in medicine.

[@lornayoung6947]

Why is als patient still alive and everybody else dies Steven hawking?

[@vilashinivelu7868]

Love the intro. “every medical study will tell us 100% of Americans will die” Hahahhahah . They did a study lol.

[@karenslivesmatter2186]

Cabang Ilmu bio: struktur luar: morfologi struktur dalam: anatomi cara kerja organ: fisiologi hewan: zoologi teknologi bio: bioteknologi perubahan makhluk hidup: evolusi bakteri: bakteriologi jamur: mikologi mikro organisme: mikrobiologi penyakit yang disebabkan oleh makhluk hidup lain: patologi virus: virologi tumbuhan: botani lingkungan: ekologi pewarisan sifat: genetika sisa" makhluk hidup masa lalu: paleontologi zat/nutrisi/ senyawa bio: biokimia Parasit: parasitologi Penempelan= adsorpsi Pemasukan DNA= penetrasi pembentukan = sistesis perakitan= eklifase pemecahan= lisis Influenza = myxovirus Cacar air= herpesvirus varicellae hepatitis= hepatitis polio= picornaviridae gondongan= paramyxovirus AIDS= retrovirus herpes= herpervirus ebola= filovirus Flagel Tidak memiliki flagel= atrik 1 flagel = monotrik Flagel di 2 sisi = amfitrik Flagel di 1 sisi(banyak) = lofotrik Flagel di seluruh tubuh = peritrik Kotak: 1: monobasil 2:diplobasil Banyak:streptobasil Bulat: 1: monococcus 2: diplococcus Panjang: streptococcus Area: staphilococcus 4: tetracoccus kubus(2x2): sarcina

[@Martist1986]

We’re all hitting the graveyard guys. No one makes it out alive.

[@joeyc1545]

We have a fucked up health system

[@muchlove9781]

Does somebody knows of a movie made under this topic?

[@guardiansanimalrescuestate7289]

Many documentaries on this on KZbin. One is four corners. Just look up assisted suicide, or death with dignity.

[@meileevaj]

How awful... just let me die, I don't want to be on any kind of machine. Do not resuscitate!!!

[@CapitolYaSa]

Refrigerator stopped working

[@banttwon]

iam suffering and wanna rest right now ....... iam so happy , just need a doctor .....

[@guardiansanimalrescuestate7289]

Where do u live? I have a lot of info on the death with dignity laws. Several states now allow it if it's an unbearable, incurable disease. Contact me if u want more info. My husband is a doctor and I work in the medical field.

[@Bartleby1701]

All this makes me a bit nervous.... Sometimes you DON'T know... My mom was in ICU, was "elderly", but recovered and lived very well for another year. If you create incentives NOT to treat, than only the rich get treatment, the rest of us are forced to give up when there may not be any reason to. When it really was her time - and we knew it - we did not put her on machines. I get that. But again....

[@berserkupinhaguts6222]

I'm going out like tony montana.

[@paullebon323]

Nina Barkell brought me here.

[@rottyangel770]

Who is that?

[@jaredgarbo3679]

If you could live forever, would you?

[@skandakumar2457]

depends on how rich and influential you are. if you're a minimum wage dime store putz like me, life cant end soon enough. if You're tony fucken romo with a zillion dollars,then maybe you'd wanna live forever

[@marilynb8136]

Not on this planet!!! He'll no!!!

[@johnnyrobinson8168]

And still the US ranks nearly last in life expectancy! SMDH

[@jackiecampbell4347]

We are mortal beings we're all gonna die get over it

[@lornayoung6947]

Movie stars drink like a sieve then get new organs. $ talks!

[@dawndayton9937]

i remember when this originally aired people screamed death panels but when it comes to it we need them

[@goivanijony8002]

I dont like this....this is how they want to sell us the idea of playing God. Im sure everyone wants to do everything possible to save their life

[@skandakumar2457]

no they dont only those who are dying know the pain of terminal illness. if i was dying of a terminal illness, id want it to be over asap..death is better than pain

[@forthefunofit3230]

problem is ...rich get to live!!

[@marcfavell]

umefunasone together tell that to Steve Jobs, most the time all the money in the world cannot save someone!

[@donnaryhter7458]

10 $ horrible!!!! Evil $$$$$😤

[@prof2yousmithe444]

This doctor should resign and take up another line of work. If he had that conversation with me, I would fire him. I have before. I will probably do it again. It is all about the $$$$. THIS MAKES ME SICK. I AM A CANCER PATIENT AS WELL.

[@TheTrichD]

I would NOT like that Doctor to be mine at the end of my life! Only God decides when a soul dies. imo

[@zangolli1963]

If you want god to decide then you shouldn't have man made machines keeping you from dying. That is not a natural death.

[@TheTrichD]

@@zangolli1963 Each to their own.

[@buddyrebel_Garcia]

Trich Deeney lol god? I’m still surprised how many people still believe there’s a god. It is our primitive nature to believe there’s a higher god because we don’t ever want to die. We are afraid of death so much that we want to believe we will live eternal life.

[@TheTrichD]

@@buddyrebel_Garcia I do not fear dying or death. I love God, the creator of all who knew me before conception. I will happily leave your beliefs with you.

[@tikiduck]

Disgusting. People are such absolute idiots. Have to keep them gagging along till the very last second because they are too cowardly to face death.

[@WOODR52]

This stuff is all a big racket. Money made for the rich, All it costs is 50 cents for a bullet, Thank god the grim reaper takes the rich,greedy,evil,poor. NO ONE ESCAPES! HA HA...

[@San47di]

THANK YOU PRESIDENT OBAMA for the Affordable Care ACT!!

[@DP-mj2dw]

Dying sucks