Preparing For Our Deaths :: essays research papers

Preparing for Death   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  A lack of preparation for our deaths is a serious problem whether it is because we don’t know the exact time or just don’t want to face death. In a article in time magazine by John Cloud he writes â€Å"We will spend more time getting ready for two weeks away from work than we will for our last two weeks on earth† (Cloud,2000,p.60). We should prepare for our deaths to show our wishes concerning treatment and life support as well as other aspects. We should make choices while we are still well, so that we are treated properly before we die. Frank Ostaceski said â€Å"we have more preparation for how to operate our VCRs than we do for how we die†(Cloud,2000,p.60).   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In today’s society we all try to prolong life as long as possible. Technology is finding new ways that we can stay healthier and lead productive lives longer. Governor Lamm said â€Å"we should be careful in terms of our technological miracles that we don’t impose life on people who, in fact, are suffering beyond our ability to help†(Collins,1991,p.540). That is the real issue at hand; are we in fact over stepping our boundaries by keeping people alive who are maybe beyond our help. â€Å"Machines can extend the length but not always the quality of life† (Cloud,2000,p.62). As doctors, they need to think about the well being of the patient and if any methods could really help the situation.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  It is hard to let someone that is close to us die, but we need to look beyond the fact that you will miss them. You need to think about what is best for the patient and if they are terminal; prolonging their life is not the best thing. It is important to prepare for our own death and make our wishes known. A living will is one way of doing that. A living will is a document explains to your doctor what types of treatment you want if you become terminally ill. A living will only works when you are terminal, it does not come into effect if you are in an accident and need emergency treatment. Some people may feel that a living will is not for them, when in fact everyone should have a living will. Most people assume that a living will means that they are refusing treatment, which is not true. A living will just explains your wishes.