“We want to wipe out death from old age in your lifetime” by Steven Mussey MD
The story behind this cartoon:
Typically, someone comes in worried. They feel great. On exam, they look in perfect health. Lab-work and other studies are great, too.
The problem comes up: “You know, my dad did die of a heart attack!”
I look down at my notes. “Yeah. But… He was 98!”
“…And my mother had a stroke!”
Me: “But she was 97!”
“But it’s in my family history! I should at least see a Cardiologist!”
Thus, the idea for this cartoon was born.
I have a very elderly patient population. My patients generally fall in to two categories on this issue: those that are scared of dying and those that accept it is part of life.
The former often ask me if they are going to die and I tell them “Yes, but I doubt you are going to die today”. The latter the conversation usually goes like this me:”See you at your next followup in 6 months” them: “If I am still around”.
I’ve had the reverse of that as a patient.
They’ll look at my family history. “Your Grandparents all died of heart attacks and strokes. You don’t want to die like that, do you? Let me give you this medication…” To that I respond, “They were all over 90, and my grandfather was farming when he suddenly died.”
Then, look at my parents. “Your parents are dead too! You really need this medication!” I respond, “My father was murdered by someone with a gun. My mother died of a disease which now has a vaccination.” “But, your father was on his way toward having a stroke. You need the medication!” There’s no clinical evidence that he was “on his way” to having a stroke.