A reader vouches for this report:
I'm an anesthesiologist and I've noticed that I never seem to see a sick physician undergoing futile end-of-life care. I've talked about this with my colleagues and we all agree that we would never want to be put through much of the end-of-life care that we routinely give to others.
So does another:
I work in end-of-life care, and I see this phenomenon all the time. I believe doctors eschew aggressive life-prolonging treatment because they've seen and understand the futility and suffering that are part and parcel of it. But I also believe it's because they're not making money off their own treatment.
Another shares a heartbreaking tale:
My 85-year-old very ill and very spirited father died in May. He was told that nothing more could be done for his advanced condition. My dad terminated treatment and was preparing to go home for hospice. Minutes later, two senior physicians arrived with the "roll of the dice plan". They said there was one more thing to try which was a very very uncomfortable dialysis. Although they couldn't promise a cure or remission they said it was a "something to try" which would happen over three days time. My dad loved gambling and he took the chance.
After the second day of horrible suffering caused by the treatment he demanded to be taken off and wanted to go home. He died at home the next morning.
My siblings and I struggle every day with the terrible terrible suffering we witnessed our father go through. Had we known what we now know, we could have helped our father avoid the pain he endured during his last days and weeks.
The Dish 