For decades, Americans have been urged to fill out documents specifying their end-of-life wishes before becoming terminally ill — living wills, do-not-resuscitate orders, and other written materials expressing treatment preferences. Now, a group of prominent experts is saying those efforts should stop because they haven’t improved end-of-life care. “Decades of research demonstrate advance care planning […]
It seems reasonable to assume that most people would prefer to be at home and as free of intrusive medical care as possible at the end of life vs. being in a hospital and subjected to uncomfortable, pointless medical interventions. New research indicates that may not be true, which provides a reminder not to put […]
Anticipating and planning for the future is an important way for each of us to engage in healthcare for ourselves, friends and family members. Being self-employed, I’m prompted to plan for the coming year when I choose a health insurance plan, which involves anticipating what my medical needs will be. I’ve been lucky so far, […]