Almost 70 per cent of people die in the hospital, including some in high-tech intensive-care beds, which cost about $1-million a year to operate. Many patients fail to complete advance directives or communicate preferences to their families, meaning they could be subject to costly, invasive treatments they did not actually want.
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Prof. Fassbender’s research shows it costs the health-care system about $39,947 to treat a patient with organ failure near the end of life; $36,652 for a terminal illness; and $31,881 for frailty. Sudden death is the least costly at $10,223.
D - the # dying should be c. 2x now by c. 2030.
Some suggest that by filling out advance directives, it can help ensure that patients receive treatments they want at end of life. The Royal Society of Canada’s report on end-of-life decisions earlier this month pointed out the need for people to express their wishes.
D - just inform folks, and they will make the choices for themselves that also serve society. Most realize that expensive painful treatments with almost no chance of success are a waste.
Perhaps, like organ-donation, require a living-will 'do not revive' option - or every ? 5yrs for the new photo health cards.
Empower people to make choices for themselves and balance the budget as a fringe benefit.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/john-ibbitson/on-health-care-funding-2-2-probably-does-equal-4/article2270491/ D - nominal GDP is the basis for federal transfers to provinces for health. That's 2 +2 or 4%. So there will be a serious funding crunch. Plus Harper has not committed to another decade-long deal. NOW is a good time to reform it.
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