Quality of Life, Not Quantity
by Wouldn’t it be better to put money into improving lives rather that prolonging them?
Over the last few years, I have increasingly thought that it is wrong to spend so much time, money and resources on keeping people alive long past their natural life-span, sometimes against their wishes.
Millions of lives on our planet could be vastly improved if money was spent on providing food, medicines, clean drinking water and better living conditions. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people who are suffering from conditions that prevent them from working or leading active lives when they are young could have their ailments cured?
Some people are obviously of the opinion that living as long as possible is desirable. I am not one of them. I hate the idea of living beyond my usefulness, and would much rather that my health was improved now. The thought of ending up being entirely dependant on other people is abhorrent, and frankly, terrifying to me.
How many people do you know that have had years of having their lives blighted by illness, and who would have been so much happier if they hadn’t had to suffer from medical conditions that could quite possibly have been alleviated if money had been spent on research?
The way we live now is unsustainable. Because people are living longer, the balance of productive people to unproductive people just isn’t going to work. I’m not suggesting that we kill people off as soon as they reach a certain age! What I am suggesting is that we improve quality of life so that more people are contributing to society for longer; that way, there would be less people spending the last 20 years of their lives feeling useless.
http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/worldageing19502050/
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Post CommentPinaki Ghosh
On September 4, 2009 at 7:36 am
Nice article…
Tlchimes
On September 4, 2009 at 8:53 am
Age isn’t the only question. There is those who feel that those who have life long disabilities shouldn’t be … um… allowed to drain resources.
I think that’s why you can’t choose to help one end and not the other.
I agree that if we helped folks when they are young there would be less need to help them when they are older.
Keep it simple…. that should be applied to many of the world’s issues.
Guy Hogan
On September 4, 2009 at 2:37 pm
This is a very powerful argument. It’s powerful because it makes such good since.
Lostash
On September 4, 2009 at 6:31 pm
I don’t want to be an old fart who soils myself every day in a nursing home with no idea of who I am. ‘Logans Run’ did away with people at 30!!! There is no morally ideal solution I fear.
Ruby Hawk
On September 5, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I’m of the opion that we should all have equal health care from new born baby to death. i don’t mean we should keep people alive with machines breathing for them but everybody should be treated for illness regardless of age. My mother lived to ninty and lived alone and took care of her own business until a few days before she died in the hospital. She recieved medical care when she needed it. it kept her well and enjoying life. I wouldn’t deny anyone because of age.
Katien
On September 5, 2009 at 7:55 pm
I wasn’t for a moment suggesting that age should be the criteria for deciding whether someone received treatment or not. In fact it is the opposite. It seems to be that our society thinks that we should impose treatment on people purely to keep them breathing, whether they want it or not. We already have millions of people who are kept alive when their natural lives would have finished. Given the choice I’m pretty sure that people would say that they don’t want to end up completely helpless, and possibly senile. If it was accepted that death is a natural occurance, instead of something that has to be fought against at all costs, then money that is spent there could be used to improve the lives of people who haven’t reached that stage. This would mean that people would have a better quality of life, work for longer, and enjot life for longer.
Rajiv Sighamony
On September 17, 2009 at 12:54 pm
good idea, though.
writing4angels
On September 21, 2009 at 6:05 am
good views about quality of life.
lillyrose
On November 5, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I really enjoyed this article! apart from being well written it makes so much sense! you may like to read an article I did on euthanasia (human) I added you as a friend. thanks for sharing.
CaSundara
On November 7, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Some very interesting and valid points. Great article.
Dartman
On November 20, 2010 at 4:06 pm
Thought provoking