I thought Kaufman’s article on “Medicare, Ethics, and Reflexive Longevity” provided a compelling argument on how “medicine materializes and problematizes time” (210, 2011). In a society where the prevalence of aging and the culturally and structurally “appropriate” treatment for aging is dependent upon the deployment of advanced technological developments of medicine, through health care programs such as Medicare, this system does not leave much room for the patient’s individual autonomy in developing a personal treatment …show more content…
Kaufman’s article provides many examples supporting the idea of this cultural shift in the context “through which political decisions, bureaucratic structures and clinical knowledge and practice, together, organize first, what becomes “thinkable” as the best medicine for very sick persons, and second, how that kind of understanding works on the self, to give shape to a telos of living (Lakoff and Collier 2004:431)” (212, 2011). Yet I am curious to know the position of the patients and their understanding of aging and death. I think it is easy to assume that younger generations are more likely to side with “evidence-based clinical studies that determine treatment standards for increasing longevity, which ultimately expands the coverage of Medicare” (Kaufman, 2012), because treatment that involves increasing longevity is not only considered a social or medical standard, but is now an ethical standard. Because the government and hospitals have the resources to utilize technology and medicine that can prevent aging and death, this is seen as something that “ought” to be implemented, otherwise neglecting to push longevity might be considered malpractice.
Taking a stance for or against reflexive longevity and ethicality as a caretaker or medical authoritative figure as is relates to government supported health care systems can result in negative ripple effects, but I am curious to know whether the patients under Medicare are as convinced of this belief. What if the patient 's view of medicine and aging differs from our belief? Have family members, medical practitioners, or politicians ever considered that to be a main