Yesterday I came home from the hospital. I had coronary bypass surgery. I did not have a heart attack, but the Doctors found blockages that could only be replaced surgically.
I explained that I was living they life I wanted to lead and that if this was going to change things so that I could not continue to live in that way. I was not interested in the surgery. My Doctor assured me that I could continue doing what I was doing only do it longer. Which was in line with my thoughts and I agreed to the procedure.
But the next morning one of his associates came by the room and said, “well I guess wee are going to have to give up those cigars, fatty foods, and drinking.†I told her that no I wasn’t going to give up those things, that I was having the surgery so I could do those things longer and that if that wasn’t the case then we could cancel the surgery. It be came a heated discussion, she left in disgusted but turned to my sister and said, “we are obviously dealing with a nut case.â€
That is all more information then you want but the question is do doctors value the length of life over the quality of life?