Preparing for The End

In the 21st century, planning one’s death can be almost as important, and in certain aspects even more important, than planning one’s life. The increased availability of advance directives into American society, however, has seemingly outpaced the intention that their increased availability would accelerate their integration in an individual’s end-of-life care and plans. While there are a number of reasons why the advance directive option is not as fully explored as might behoove those that are 65 or older, the benefits of completing advance directives are clear nonetheless. And while by no means a pillar of the current healthcare debate, advance directives, because of their moral and financial impact, should certainly garner more discussion in the public health agenda.

Those who fall victim to serious illness absent an advance directive on file may also become the unsuspecting prey of an equally fatal killer. One of the many problems that plague those suddenly thrust into potentially life-ending situations, particularly for those who are unconscious and very wealthy, is the threat of apathetic, money hungry relatives attempting to medically end that individual’s life, instead of increasing the quality of what remaining life they have, with hopes of winning the inheritance lottery. And all the while, the loved ones of the afflicted justify themselves feigning distress about the horrors of those condemned to live the remainder of their days in a vegetative state. Money, it seems, may be the single greatest reason for completing an advance directive.

Conversely, another reason why completing an advance directive may be beneficial later in life is to avoid undue financial stress that can arise as a result of moral gray areas. One study indicated that nearly 25% of a person’s lifetime medical expenses are incurred in the last year of their life (Morhaim e9). This statistic arises from the fact that many people, families especially, are of the mindset that if one of their loved one’s lives is on the line, no expense should be spared in prolonging said individual’s life. Tragically though, many families and significant others find themselves hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt from medical bills. Even more unfortunate is that for many, this money is spent in vain because for individuals so traumatically injured, any life expectancy outside of a day, or a week, or what have you, is simply unrealistic. However, the monetary and emotional toll from such experiences can be substantially mitigated via advance directives.

The implementation of advance directives as a medical requirement, rather than a personal option, would to a great degree diminish some of the unwanted consequences of end-of-life situations. Concerning the greed of unscrupulous distant relatives, an individual’s wealth would be protected, or otherwise distributed according to his or her wishes, by having in place a person granted power of attorney that the dying individual appointed—not necessarily a money-hungry next of kin. On the flip side, if an individual intent on sparing his family unnecessary medical expenses desires a natural death, an advance directive would remedy that situation as well. This again reinforces the notion that, despite what many claim is an unnecessary and misleading medical device, the advance directive can not only save the life of a dying individual, but also the lives of his or her loved ones—both financially and emotionally.

Work Cited

Morhaim, Dan K., and Keshia M. Pollack. "End-Of-Life Care Issues: A Personal, Economic, Public Policy, And Public Health Crisis." American Journal of Public Health 103.6 (2013): e8-e10. Academic Search Premier. Web. 18 Oct. 2013.