I was told today that my mum has breast cancer. She is 83. She is so unwell that she cannot be treated in any way. So she will go the whole 9 yards with breast cancer.
There have been many times though in the last 20 years when she was very ill with pneumonia. She has also had many strokes. But of course you are not allowed to die from them.
Consequently she has lived in a almost vegatative state for 10 years. Able only to move her right hand and drifting in and out of reality.
I write this because I am confused about the aims of health care. They seem to be to keep us alive no matter what.
Why? I blame no one for I think that maybe it is our own fear of death that makes our focus avoiding it. But I think that how we live is important and how we die. But my mum has had no choice in the matter and now will die the hardest death imaginable.
Oh and of course - you will pay for it as I will I.
