| Theme | Reconsidering dialysis initiation for the elderly | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Significant aspects for living one's old age | |
| Publish Date | 2016/01 | |
| Author | Tetsuro Shimizu | University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Humanities and Sociology, Uehiro Chair for Death & Life Studies and Practical Ethics |
| [ Summary ] | There are a few significant pairs of aspects occasionally conflicting in the decision-making process, for instance, on whether to receive dialysis. Among them, a pair of aspects, biographical life and biological life, is noteworthy ; the former refers to our life we lead with meaning, while the latter refers to physical life. The role of medical care is to help patients enjoy their biographical life, by medically treating their biological life. A pair of attitudes, live-side-by-side, or mutual support, and live-and-let-live, or mutual non-interference, is also noteworthy as crucial for decision-making ethics. People gauge appropriate behavior by assessing the distance between others and blending the two differing attitudes in proportion to that distance. Particulaly in intra-family relationships, the live-side-by-side attitude is dominant, which results in certain distinctive behaviors. In addition, some people are reluctant to accept social support and think that they should live by themselves, but our society has both live-side-by-side and live-and-let-live attitudes. People are able to strengthen society's attitudes by receiving social support when they need it. Currently, when we plan for our old age regarding health and nursing care, we should consider the amount of social resources our society will be able to offer us. |
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