Radiolab The Bitter End
Jan 15, 2013
Sean Cole, a radio reporter, delves into doctors' often stark preferences for end-of-life care, revealing a significant gap between what they advise and what they choose for themselves. Joining him is Ken Murray, a physician and author, who shares why many doctors reject aggressive interventions, citing statistical failures and personal experiences. The discussion highlights how treatments can sometimes prolong suffering rather than heal. They explore the complexities of family decisions, advance directives, and the longing for a peaceful death outside the hospital.
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Longitudinal Doctors Study
- The Precursor Study followed Johns Hopkins med students from 1948–1964 with decades of health and psychological testing.
- Researchers later asked these aging doctors how they'd want medical care if severely brain-injured.
Patients Prefer Maximal Treatment
- Most laypeople say they want almost all life-sustaining treatments in dire scenarios, like CPR or ventilation.
- This contrasts sharply with doctors' preferences revealed later in the survey.
Doctors Reject Aggressive Measures
- Doctors overwhelmingly decline aggressive interventions for severe brain injury: about 90% reject CPR and ventilation.
- They largely accept pain relief even if it may hasten death.