Why I Hope to Die at 75
Article is from The Atlantic, hopefully it allows you to read, if you're curious.
Author is Ezekiel Emanuel, a (retired, I think?) oncologist, bioethicist, and a vice provost of the University of Pennsylvania.
His article spends a good bit of time on his primary concern with aging: the quality of your life nearly always worsens, and in many cases, significantly. He is particularly fearful of dementia--as am I. I largely agree with many things put forth in his article, particularly this:
"...over the past 50 years, health care hasn’t slowed the aging process so much as it has slowed the dying process."
Meaning, we may have found ways to delay death and thus extend the number of years we have here... but we haven't necessarily found ways to extend good, quality years of life.
He goes on to say, "but here is a simple truth that many of us seem to resist: living too long is also a loss. It renders many of us, if not disabled, then faltering and declining, a state that may not be worse than death but is nonetheless deprived. It robs us of our creativity and ability to contribute to work, society, the world. It transforms how people experience us, relate to us, and, most important, remember us. We are no longer remembered as vibrant and engaged but as feeble, ineffectual, even pathetic."
When asked if a couple months ago, has anything has for him since he wrote the infamous 2014 article, Emanuel said, "I wouldn't say nothing." Emanuel's partner does not agree with his plan, and "she would like me to consider preventative measures like a flu vaccine. A lot will depend on whether I really am a rare outlier** at 75, and I'm not deceiving myself. That will be the biggest challenge . . . We are in discussions," Emanuel said. (in his article, he indicates he's not going to kill himself or live unnecessarily dangerously when he hits the 75ish mark... but he also won't actively try to extend his life with vaccines, cancer treatment, etc. He would seek palliative care, but not curative care)
(**ie, someone exceptionally fit and healthy)
As I said, I agree with a lot of what he says in his article... but it's also interesting he seems to be leaving the door open for a bit more "flexibility" than his earlier adamant stance
Article is from The Atlantic, hopefully it allows you to read, if you're curious.
Author is Ezekiel Emanuel, a (retired, I think?) oncologist, bioethicist, and a vice provost of the University of Pennsylvania.
His article spends a good bit of time on his primary concern with aging: the quality of your life nearly always worsens, and in many cases, significantly. He is particularly fearful of dementia--as am I. I largely agree with many things put forth in his article, particularly this:
"...over the past 50 years, health care hasn’t slowed the aging process so much as it has slowed the dying process."
Meaning, we may have found ways to delay death and thus extend the number of years we have here... but we haven't necessarily found ways to extend good, quality years of life.
He goes on to say, "but here is a simple truth that many of us seem to resist: living too long is also a loss. It renders many of us, if not disabled, then faltering and declining, a state that may not be worse than death but is nonetheless deprived. It robs us of our creativity and ability to contribute to work, society, the world. It transforms how people experience us, relate to us, and, most important, remember us. We are no longer remembered as vibrant and engaged but as feeble, ineffectual, even pathetic."
When asked if a couple months ago, has anything has for him since he wrote the infamous 2014 article, Emanuel said, "I wouldn't say nothing." Emanuel's partner does not agree with his plan, and "she would like me to consider preventative measures like a flu vaccine. A lot will depend on whether I really am a rare outlier** at 75, and I'm not deceiving myself. That will be the biggest challenge . . . We are in discussions," Emanuel said. (in his article, he indicates he's not going to kill himself or live unnecessarily dangerously when he hits the 75ish mark... but he also won't actively try to extend his life with vaccines, cancer treatment, etc. He would seek palliative care, but not curative care)
(**ie, someone exceptionally fit and healthy)
As I said, I agree with a lot of what he says in his article... but it's also interesting he seems to be leaving the door open for a bit more "flexibility" than his earlier adamant stance
