This article which appeared in 2014 in the Atlantic and written by Ezekiel Emanuel is a guiding light for me. I have read and reread this article many times before. Here are things Emanuel says he will stop at 75 and beyond.
At 75 and beyond, I will need a good reason to even visit the doctor and take any medical test or treatment, no matter how routine and painless. [(Soma) I am not so sure about discontinuing yearly checkups. May be I will reduce it to once in two years.]
I will accept only palliative—not curative—treatments if I am suffering pain or other disability.
At 65 will be my last colonoscopy. [(Soma) I am 66 now, I haven't had colonoscopy in about 7 years, my last one would be in three years when I am 69-70.]
No screening for prostate cancer at any age.
After 75, if I develop cancer, I will refuse treatment.
Similarly, no cardiac stress test. No pacemaker and certainly no implantable defibrillator. No heart-valve replacement or bypass surgery.
Flu shots are out.
No to antibiotics.
Obviously, a do-not-resuscitate order and a complete advance directive indicating no ventilators, dialysis, surgery, antibiotics, or any other medication—nothing except palliative care. [(Soma) I have to revisit and see if I am this explicit in my advance directive.]
At 75 and beyond, I will need a good reason to even visit the doctor and take any medical test or treatment, no matter how routine and painless. [(Soma) I am not so sure about discontinuing yearly checkups. May be I will reduce it to once in two years.]
I will accept only palliative—not curative—treatments if I am suffering pain or other disability.
At 65 will be my last colonoscopy. [(Soma) I am 66 now, I haven't had colonoscopy in about 7 years, my last one would be in three years when I am 69-70.]
No screening for prostate cancer at any age.
After 75, if I develop cancer, I will refuse treatment.
Similarly, no cardiac stress test. No pacemaker and certainly no implantable defibrillator. No heart-valve replacement or bypass surgery.
Flu shots are out.
No to antibiotics.
Obviously, a do-not-resuscitate order and a complete advance directive indicating no ventilators, dialysis, surgery, antibiotics, or any other medication—nothing except palliative care. [(Soma) I have to revisit and see if I am this explicit in my advance directive.]
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