Health Care System Factors for Deaths From All Causes

Health Care System Factors

Advances in medical technology are one of the factors lowering death rates in Utah and elsewhere. One issue with extending lives through medical technology is that individuals often have chronic disabilities that have implications for their quality of life. Health expenditures for providing end-of-life care are disproportionately high. The difficult moral and ethical issues involved in provision of end-of-life care should be considered by all individuals, and their wishes made known to family members who would be likely to make health care decisions in the event of their incapacity.