Skip to content
KFF Health News KFF Health News KFF Health News KFF Health News
Donate
  • Donate
  • Connect With Us:
  • Contact
  • X
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Trump 2.0
    • Agency Watch
    • Medicaid Watch
    • State Watch
  • Public Health
  • Race & Health
  • Audio
    • KFF Health News Minute
    • What the Health?
    • An Arm and a Leg
    • Silence in Sikeston
    • Epidemic
    • American Diagnosis
    • Where It Hurts
  • Investigations
    • Bill Of The Month
    • Broken Rehab
    • Dead Zone
    • Diagnosis: Debt
    • Overpayment Outrage
    • Payback: Tracking Opioid Cash
    • Systemic Sickness
    • The Body Shops
    • The Injured
    • The Only Hospital in Town
    • ALL INVESTIGATIONS
  • More Topics
    • Abortion
    • Aging
    • Climate
    • COVID-19
    • Health Care Costs
    • Insurance
    • Medicaid
    • Medicare
    • Mental Health
    • Pharma
    • Rural Health
    • Uninsured

David Ewing Duncan

What Price For Medical Miracles? High Costs At End Of Life Still Part Of National Health Debate

By David Ewing Duncan March 9, 2010 KFF Health News Original

Finding the right balance between too much and too little care is excruciating and highly personal for physicians, patients and families – one reason it’s not discussed at a national level. This reluctance is mirrored by an unwillingness by lawmakers to confront hard choices on medical spending.

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

Latest Morning Briefing Stories

  • California Weekly Roundup: Jan. 7, 2026 10:34 AM ET

  • FDA Introduces New Rules For Wearables And AI-Enabled Devices 8:54 AM ET

  • HHS Halts $10B In Child Care, Family Aid To 5 States Over Fraud Allegations 8:54 AM ET

  • Upcoming US Dietary Guidelines Might Reduce Added Sugar, Increase Protein 8:54 AM ET

  • Viewpoints: Pediatricians Must Show Empathy In Vaccine Talks; Altering The Vaccine Schedule Puts Children At Risk 8:54 AM ET

Email Sign-Up

More From KFF Health News

Inside the Battle for the Future of Addiction Medicine

A photo of an open glass doorway. Writing on the top of the doorway reads, "Welcome to the MVP Program."

Homeless Shelters for Seniors Pop Up, Catering to Older Adults’ Medical Needs

A woman holds a young child, who is wearing a tie-dye shirt and a bandage, on her hip

The CDC Just Sidelined These Childhood Vaccines. Here’s What They Prevent.

A photo of a historic downtown area of Auburn, California. Old buildings are seen alongside trees. A rotunda is seen on top of a tall building in the background.

On the Hook for Uninsured Residents, Counties Now Wonder How They’ll Pay

KFF

© 2026 KFF. All rights reserved.

  • About Us
  • Donate
  • Contact Us
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Staff
  • Republish Our Content
  • Email Sign-Up
  • X
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • RSS

Powered by WordPress VIP

Thank you for your interest in supporting KFF Health News, the nation’s leading nonprofit newsroom focused on health and health policy. We distribute our journalism for free and without advertising through media partners of all sizes and in communities large and small. We appreciate all forms of engagement from our readers and listeners, and welcome your support.

KHN is an editorially independent program of KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation). You can support KHN by making a contribution to KFF, a non-profit charitable organization that is not associated with Kaiser Permanente.

Click the button below to go to KFF’s donation page which will provide more information and FAQs. Thank you!

Continue