Bob Newhart: Spent Keeping Alive

Posted by admin on Sunday, September 5, 2021

Bob Newhart Money Quote saying we should ask those we struggle to keep alive what their preferences when so much is spent to help them survive. Bob Newhart said:
 

 

“A lot of money is spent trying to keep people alive who don’t necessarily want to be alive” — Bob Newhart

 

 

In this quote, Bob Newhart seems to be making a philosophical observation about modern medical practices and end-of-life care. Specifically:

• Newhart notes that vast sums are spent on aggressive medical interventions and life-extending treatments for patients.
• However, he implies that in some cases this is done for individuals who themselves may no longer wish to continue living given their circumstances or quality of life if asked directly.
• Newhart appears to be suggesting that at times, considerable resources are devoted to keeping people biologically alive against their own implicit desires, if only they could openly communicate their wishes.

The best interpretation is that Newhart is raising a thought-provoking point about how much medical resources are focused on prolonging the physiological living process, when a patient’s will to actually continue experiencing life may have understandably diminished. His quote prompts consideration of ensuring treatment priorities truly respect patients’ autonomy and values around their own definition of a life worth living according to his perspective on this complex issue at the intersection of medicine, ethics and end-of-life care.

Birthday: September 5, 1929 – July 18, 2024