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plinocmene t1_j4w7062 wrote

Reply to comment by subcuriousgeorge in Family Dynamics and Doctors' Emotions Drive Useless End-of-Life Care. Surveys repeatedly indicate that nearly all people would rather die peacefully at home, yet painful, long-shot treatments remain common, and efforts to reduce usage have failed by Wagamaga

What is there to prepare for and what are the consequences of not preparing?

I rather die fighting to live no matter how low the odds are. I may know that in all likelihood I will still die or that barring a miracle I will die but I'd rather take even the smallest chance if it's available.

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shnnn73 t1_j4w8rb9 wrote

Decide what you consider “living”. For me and my family, living in a long term care with a tracheostomy and feeding tube unable to get out of bed and 100% dependent on caregivers is not actually “living”. It’s a very prolonged death that’s also very physically uncomfortable.

It is a very large, very grey area.

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plinocmene t1_j4wa77j wrote

If I can think, or even just dream I want to be alive. I have a very vivid imagination and can entertain myself.

I'm not saying that other people's preferences are invalid, but people speak as if my preference to try everything is somehow invalid. There is this implicit assumption in today's culture that if you value anything other than net pleasure/pain you're in the wrong. I value being able to do things (including thinking, visualizing, and dreaming) over being able to do nothing, even if the things I can do are limited.

I wouldn't want to be in a state where I can't do anything at all, even thinking or dream but supposing the chance of recovery were nonzero, even the smallest of chances I would rather be kept alive just in case. That includes factoring in the possibility of new discoveries in medical technology that might be able to help.

EDIT: Also you didn't answer my question. What is there to prepare for when it comes to death and what are the consequences of not preparing?

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