For patients with severe illnesses, dying is normally not the worst thing they face. A recent study reports that a majority of those patients think that bowel and urinary incontinence and having to rely on a breathing machine are worse than a looming death. A majority, however, agreed that being in a wheelchair, being at home all day, and being in moderate pain are much better than death. Studies also show that large percentages of healthy people consider severe dementia to be worse than death. Furthermore, researchers noted that these feared states might at some point become more tolerable once they are experienced. Ultimately, we know that further research is needed to improve patient outcomes.
See Sara G. Miller, What’s Worse Than Death? Dementia and Breathing Machines, Patients Say, Fox News Health, August 2, 2016.
