An end-of-life expert says doctors have a preferred way to die, and it’s very different from how they treat patients who are near death.
Chris Palmer, an author, speaker and filmmaker who “dedicates his life” to studying death, explained in his new book, titled How to achieve a good death: a practical guide to the end of lifewho noted that many medical professionals have adopted similar approaches when they are close to dying.
He said that instead of doing everything they can to keep people alive as long as possible, as they are trained to do for others, most doctors “avoid harsh treatments” so they can have a “gentler” death.
She found that they often avoid things like “surgeries, radiation or chemotherapy” as they near the end of their lives, despite spending years “regularly doling them out to their older patients.”
“Doctors frequently see dying patients and know better than most people what constitutes a good death,” he said.
An end-of-life expert has claimed that doctors have a preferred way of dying, and it is very different to how they treat patients who are close to death.
“(That’s why) what doctors want to do at the end of their lives is revealing.”
Chris stated that “most doctors value the quality of your life” more than its “length” and do not want to endure some of the negative side effects that come with life-saving treatments.
“For example, chemotherapy for older patients can be incredibly demanding and arduous,” he wrote.
‘It can cause nausea, vomiting, depression, mouth sores, muscle aches and mental confusion. It can also weaken the heart and damage the kidneys. Chemotherapy can make the last days of life unbearably painful.
‘(Doctors) avoid harsh treatments (such as surgery, radiation and chemotherapy) that they typically give to their older patients.
‘They will typically stop treatment, refuse CPR, take pain medication as needed and be surrounded by loved ones at home.
‘They have fewer aggressive interventions, suffer less and take advantage of palliative care, including hospice.
“What’s unusual about doctors isn’t how much treatment they get compared to most Americans, but how little they get.”
He said that instead of doing everything possible to keep patients alive as long as possible, as they are trained to do with others, most doctors “avoid harsh treatments.”
Chris pointed to a 2014 survey by Stanford University that found that “nearly nine in ten physicians said they would choose a do-not-resuscitate (DNS) status when dying.”
“However, doctors often do not offer this option to their patients,” he added.
Chris is an author, speaker, and filmmaker who “dedicates his life” to studying death.
Dr. Sunita Puri, director of the hospice and palliative medicine fellowship program at the UMass Chan School of Medicine, echoed her sentiments.
“Most of the doctors I met noted the inherent irony in our offering patients intubations, CPR, tracheostomies, dialysis, etc., when many of us would not choose such interventions in their circumstances,” he told her.
In the end, Chris said he believed doctors should make dying patients “more informed” about their treatment options and be completely transparent about both the good and bad parts.
“Doctors know things that patients may not know, but should know,” he said.
“After all, it’s because doctors know more about what happens at the end of life that they can make better decisions.”
He suggested that doctors show patients videos of what will happen to them so they are aware.
“Maybe patients would think twice if they could see the reality,” Chris added.
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