A survey of more than 500 people here has found that they value being able to die at home more than an extra year of life. But right at the top of their list is being free from pain, the findings of a survey by the Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School and Lien Centre for Palliative Care showed.
They were willing to pay $24,000 a year to relieve severe pain, but only $9,100 to prolong life for another 12 months. In presenting the findings at a Lien Centre for Palliative Care conference on Wednesday, Dr Chetna Malhotra, an assistant professor at the centre, said what people value has implications on where government subsidies should go.
She asked: "Does it make sense for the Government to pay for expensive therapies to extend life?"
Based on the findings, she said "subsidies for end-of-life treatments may not be a good use of scarce resources". "Pain management is at least as critical as prospects for extending life when deciding treatment options."
They were willing to pay $24,000 a year to relieve severe pain, but only $9,100 to prolong life for another 12 months. In presenting the findings at a Lien Centre for Palliative Care conference on Wednesday, Dr Chetna Malhotra, an assistant professor at the centre, said what people value has implications on where government subsidies should go.
She asked: "Does it make sense for the Government to pay for expensive therapies to extend life?"
Based on the findings, she said "subsidies for end-of-life treatments may not be a good use of scarce resources". "Pain management is at least as critical as prospects for extending life when deciding treatment options."