I was curious to inquire with the field about the kinds of questions we should be asking in health care --- yet, are not. Why? One example is from Health Administration. We focus much attention on process and outcomes; however, we rarely ask WHY in a philosophical sense. We embrace life and life-saving treatments, but why do we try to avoid death when death may be the best "treatment"?
What are we doing about curbing the increasing mental health problems of people in so called advanced countries such as Australia, USA and UK? We avoid death because of the fallacy that people believe death is final so that human life needs to be extended as long as possible.
I think it is the reason for eminent death that is the controlling factor in this discussion. If death has been anticipated and palliative care is appropriate, end of life care and support, culminating in death with dignity may be the final aim, along with support also for family and the friends. However, if death was not anticipated - perhaps following an accident - then life preservation, to me, seems the appropriate intervention, followed by assessment. This may indicate that end of life care is the only possibility. I'm not sure whether I have portrayed my thoughts on this as well as I could, but felt that I could add to the discussion.
Within the US, we have had a very poor history of caring for mentally ill patients both on the inpatient and outpatient sides -- especially because we allowed many to abuse inpatients for decades.
More recently, some payment reform initiatives are underway across the country, as in Washington State, where the state government (led by the Washington State Health Care Authority) has implemented experimental payment designs that incentivize the alignment of primary care with behavioral health and substance use interventions.
The University of Washington Medical Center has also been on the leading edge in this regard through applied research: https://aims.uw.edu/ -- particularly in dealing with depression (preventive measures).
Suicide rates are still high, however, just look at our military population and the associated statistics: depression, substance use and abuse, homelessness, etc.
Death is part of life!
But I disagree with you! Your statement (death is the best treatment) is a personal judgment which should be ethically avoided.
Mahdi: You are welcome to disagree - but the issue is not straightforward. Having worked in healthcare for almost 30 years, i can assure you that there are times when death is preferred to suffering. What may be more unethical is prolonging life amidst great suffering.
I see why you responded as above, Mahdi Movahed-Abtahi; was it the word 'treatment' that Suzanne J. Wood placed in inverted commas? I think it is the use of the word in a wider sense. I was trying to think of another way of expressing the end of life when treatment to extend life would not be appropriate. I see palliative care as treatment and feel that it is sometimes the right option.
The Health System in each country must make reconstructions by WHO Strategy of Health System in 21 Century, Five points of strategy are: paliative care, prevention, increase treatment, promotion of healthy life style and rehabilitation.
I agree with Mary C R Wilson. We can accept death as a part of our life to prioritize quality of life over than life span! A philosophical/ethical not medical decision!
Governments should start investing heavily in healthy food projects so that a new generation of people embrace them as a way of life, to cut down of public health expenses. And as far as care for the elderly is concerned, pensioners should think about buying homes in foreign countries, like Africa, where they can get value for their money, having helpers who can give them best care and then be attended to by specialist doctors.
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