Paying for Medical Care
"American Medicine is the envy of the world. It has some of the best hospitals. Highly skilled, well-trained, innovative doctors and has made significant advances in in biomedical research, but contradictory it is wasteful, inefficient, increasingly irrational and expensive" (Page 65 Landmark)
We devote about 17% of our gross domestic products to health care, which is far more than any other developed country. Despite such high spending our industrialized democracy doesn't guarantee health insurance to all, and according to the United States Census Bureau, 45 million Americans lack coverage. 59% of the United States workers with employer provided insurance have had to sit and watch that coverage diminish before their eyes even as the cost continuing to rise.
Facing Terminal Illness
The thought that your story is on its final chapters can be very depressing and overwhelming. We all know we are gonna die, but not everyone "believes" they are going to die, but another way to view this situation in another light, would be from Tuesdays with Morrie: "Its only horrible if you see it that way. Its horrible to watch my body slowly wilt away to nothing. But its also wonderful because of all the time I get to say good-bye...Not everyone is that lucky" Pg 57
I always find it inspirational how Morrie can make any bad situation seem not as terrible as people make it. I think that there is a certain reward in a death that is not quick. One gets time to reflect on life and not only that but although your dying your not dead, giving one time to experience the life they have left to the fullest.
The Process of Dying
The process of dying effects not only the person who is dying but also the loved ones of the person also as seen in the touching story that Beth shared. The stages of death ,from the beginning to end, do take their toll on people(lying to ones self about their mortality, the stripping of pride). One key lesson that Beth got across was being sad about something one has no control over only leaves a person feeling miserable. The fact that they accepted death (the signing of the DNR) shows that they were moving on. One thing that I find interesting about death is that everyone wants an answer to what happens whether it be asking a monk to asking a preacher.
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