Are doctors really not motivated enough to treat seriously ill patients older than 70 years old?
As you possibly know, ageism is the most tolerated discrimination worldwide and in Canada. The signs of ageism and ageist behaviors can be seen everywhere and in everyone. It’s so obvious that sometimes it may consider as “normal,” so no one can really notice it. Anyways, the health care service is not an exception. The health care system could be the most ageist public service in most countries. Sometimes you may see or notice some ageist behaviors from doctors, specialists, nurses, or anyone else in the medical services. So does it mean they’re all ageists? Do they refuse to cure older adults?
Of course not! That doesn’t mean they are doing it on purpose, or they just don’t like you! The fact is they’re doing their duty. Believe me, no doctor on the earth cares less about older adults’ health and doesn’t want to save their life, so throw this conspiracy theory away. Where is the problem then, you may ask? The answer is the health care attitude toward older adults! The health care and medical system tends to normalize the health concerns of older adults. This attitude shows that some health issues are typical at certain ages. From this point of view, some illnesses in older adults are not so essential to treat like they are in younger people. However, it’s a totally wrong theory. Still, it’s so common in the medical system, and that’s why some older adults feel like doctors may not be so motivated to treat them like they do for younger patients.