Can the NHS function with an aging population? Karol Sikora on the ethics of old-age treatments

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[misteroz]

If 20% of my tax goes to bankroll the NHS, take 18% less and I’ll gladly spend the proceeds on private medical insurance.

[nelliedean]

Here we go again, the argument against living longer.

[JSMCSUK]

Rather the English elderly than people not born in the uk all foreigners should pay as we do when working or travelling abroad also benefits should only be for people born here

[garyneedham]

4th largest employer in the world of any organisation and still bottom of health league tables.

[DCo-gq]

My grandmother lived independently until age 99. My mother still does challenging work and takes care of her house at age 89. Age is just a number. It is unethical to impose categorical restrictions based on age.

[welshgruff]

I'm 78 and if I get seriously ill I don't want these interventions I would want to end my life in those circumstances but they won't let me. I believe young people with their lives ahead of them should have priority for scarce resources .

[cbmech]

Just wondering, who gets to decide who gets age prolonging treatment and who doesn't, or even maybe who gets euthanized?

[giovanni]

The argument is ridicolous: the NHS s to already rationing medical care. Rather the argument should be whether the rationing should be made overt or kept covert. Obviously since teh UK is not a functioning democracy no chance of that happening ever.

[stephfoxwell]

40% of the NHS budget is spent on the over 85s.

[keithfrancis]

NHS hospitals feed patients with high oxalates, high carbohydrates, high bad fat.

[Pleblordy]

Our society doesn’t like making hard choices. And it doesn’t like making value judgements about peoples lives (ie deciding that it’s not worth spending a fortune on a 90 year old). And it doesn’t like self sacrifice. And (being fundamentally atheistic and individualistic) it is absolutely terrified of death.

[graveperil]

stop NHS life saving procedures on those that have retired and are no longer productive. let them drop out the back of the herd