I just saw an interesting article in the New York Times that I think is worth discussing. It's titled "The Unspoken Diagnosis: Old Age."

Basically the article discusses the fact that - perhaps due to the Hippocratic Oath? -- very few physicians acknowledge the need to level with patients and their families when the patient has a terminal illnesses and death is near. In fact, many times those kinds of honest, exploratory conversations still don’t take place.

Now Dr. Smith, a palliative care specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, who also practices at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and two co-authors are urging a change they acknowledge would “radically alter” the way health care professionals communicate with their very old patients.

I'm certainly not in favor of "death panels," as became a concern with those who opposed Obamacare, but I DO think that there are times when families would say that it is more kind to allow a beloved family member who is clearly dying to "go in peace," rather than force the loved one to endure "heroic measures" that will be painful, and - in the end - not really change the fact that the person is going to die.

My experience is that at some time, which is currently called "palliative care" is the better solution.

But that's just my humble opinion. I am sure others would like to weigh in on this topic and I welcome a good discussion.

By the way, here's a link to the full article: The Unspoken Diagnosis: Old Age