Is there such a thing as "too much" pain medicine for the terminally ill?
Recent news reports reveal that U.S. Attorney General Ashcroft seeks to overturn Oregon’s voter-mandated "right to die" law. Whatever one’s opinion of this law, Oregon observers report that the government’s move to eliminate it is already having a chilling effect on the conduct of doctors who treat severe pain. Because pain medications are often used to end life, by individuals seeking a quiet and dignified death, doctors who prescribe such drugs fall under close scrutiny and run a higher risk of prosecution for over-prescribing certain drugs.
Most of us have given only passing thought to the subject of long-term care. Even when we have witnessed a friend or family member suffering through the complications of a long recuperation or rehabilitation, most of us still tell ourselves, "that won't happen to me!"
"I will never need a home care assistant!"
"I will rely on my children to help me!"
"I will stay in my own home, no matter what!"
"I will use government benefits to pay for the nursing home that I choose!"
The truth is that, in any given year, each of us (depending on our age) is four to seven times more likely to become disabled than to die! To put this in perspective, let's look at it this way: for every adult death, there are between four and seven adults the same age, who do not die from their illnesses, injuries or accidents, but become disabled and need some type of special care or rehabilitation.
A new insurance product has come onto the market within the past few years, and it may be one of the most important investments an individual can make. Long-term care insurance is a product that promotes "planning," not "crisis management."
Do you recall the statistic noted earlier in this chapter? Depending upon your age, you are four to seven times more likely to become disabled in any given year, than you are likely to die! Yet there are millions upon millions of life insurance policies existing in this country, and fewer than one million long-term care policies.
