EP 27: What Happens When we DON'T Die?

Since the beginning of human thought, we've pondered the great metaphysical question,  "What happens when we die?" But now, thanks to modern medical technology, a new question has emerged that has practical, down-to-earth implications...  "What happens when we don't die?"

In today's episode, Dr. Karen Wyatt and Dr. Terri Daniel explore an aspect of end-of-life care that is not often discussed, and may even be a bit difficult to listen to.  Because today we're talking about about the horrors of life extension,  and we give some powerful examples of what happens when we're kept alive far past the point when the body is ready to die a natural death.  It's an uncomfortable topic, because it addresses scenarios and outcomes that could  potentially apply to any of us.   

RELATED LINKS: 

. Oregon Death with Dignity Q&A
. Dementia Provision for Advance Directives
. End-of-Life University podcast
. The Conference on Death, Grief and Belief


RELATED STATISTICS:

. The population of Americans  65 and older is projected to grow from 58 million in 2021 to 88 million by 2050

 
 . In 1901, only 50 percent of white females survived to the age of 60 years, and only about 5 percent of those survived to the age of 90.  By contrast, in In 2004, about 90 percent of white females survived to the age of 60, and more than 25 percent   survived to the age of 90.[2]

. While older adults comprise just 12% of the population, they make up approximately 18% of suicides. men ages 85 and older having the highest rate of any group in the country  [3]

[1] https://www.alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-facts-and-figures.pdf
[2]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK51841/#:~:text=Only%204.5%20percent%20(about%201.5,million)%20live%20in%20the%20community.
[3] https://www.ncoa.org/article/suicide-and-older-adults-what-you-should-know