Medicare is the federal health insurance program for seniors and one-quarter of its allotment is spent caring for elders during their last year of life, according to the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice. Public debate over end of life decisions has been extremely contentious and political. Any attempt to civilly discuss this issue especially in relation to costs quickly veers off into sound bites regarding "death-panels."
Regardless, public awareness of this issue has been on a steady rise over the past three decades, from 59 percent in 1977 to nearly 70 percent last year, according to the General Social Survey conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago.
Should a competent adult be able to end his or her own life?
A new spin on this decades old question has now been brought to the forefront in a nationwide poll from Suffolk University's Political Research Center. The current question considers whether a competent adult should be able to end his or her own life in an effort to save on health care costs, and researchers were surprised at the results.
After surveying 1,070 adults nationwide, thirty-five percent said they would favor allowing "mentally able seniors" to end their own lives in an effort to "help save health care costs." This direct link between senior health care spending and end-of-life choices was considered to be an amazing finding by David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center.
In breaking down more than one third of the yes votes, men were more likely than women to say yes; the Northeast and the West were more in favor of the seniors being able to end their lives whereas the South and the Midwest had lower percentages; among the least likely to favor seniors ending their lives were those aged 75 and over, but those in the 55-64 range were more likely advocates. Additionally, those with higher education levels were greater proponents of the seniors being given the choice to end their lives as well as those with greater household incomes.
- thirty-five percent said they would favor allowing "mentally able seniors" to end their own lives in an effort to "help save health care costs.
- one third of the yes votes, men were more likely than women to say yes;
- Northeast and the West were more in favor of the seniors being able to end their lives
- the least likely to favor seniors ending their lives were those aged 75 and over
- those in the 55-64 range were more likely advocates
- those with higher education levels were greater proponents
One-third of those surveyed agreeing that "mentally able" seniors should be able to end their own lives.
Increasing anxiety over the rising cost of health care, and continuous debates surrounding a potential Medicare overhaul may be the reasoning behind what David Paleologos considers to be an amazing result of over one-third of those surveyed agreeing that "mentally able" seniors should be able to end their own lives in an effort to save on health care costs.
Recently we came across an essay in the New York Times beautifully describing how one man is approaching end of life decisions. Keep in mind that no matter where you stand on the issue of end of life decisions, for each of us it is critical that we have a health care proxy with a medical directive. Click here for more information about health care proxies.
Let us know if you have any questions or comments.
Regards, Steve & Eric
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