Beloved Allegany County Physician talks life, and death
From Doris MacFarquhar, Monday Club Publicist
Longevity and End of Life Care, complex topics of concern for everyone, were the subjects of Dr. William Coch’s program for the Monday Club of Wellsville on September 23rd.
He listed many factors that affect longevity: birthplace, being female, less risky behaviors, not being too tall, choosing safe occupations, and social factors such as race, exercise, food choices. He noted that infant mortality has decreased over years, but overdose deaths are much increased. Heart disease is still the number one killer, along with cancer, and pneumonia. Fewer people die in hospitals now, and more people remain at home or in care facilities in their last years.
Individuals make decisions that include how much medical care they want. Number of medications taken are a serious concern, with many people taking too many pills, polypharmacy! Medication de-prescribing with guidance may help prevent harmful interactions and still provide good health results,.
Dr. Coch recommended that immunizations are important for Covid, hi-dose flu, RSV, DPT, and Shingrix.
He summarized that at the end of life, people want to know the truth about conditions, to experience physical and emotional touch, time to adjust to five stages of grief, to be comfortable, to be at home if possible, and to stop medical care if it is futile. He stressed important documents that everyone should have up to date: Advanced Directives, DNR, Living Will, Health Care Proxy, and MOLST. These give guidance about CPR, Intubation, ventilation, IV’s, dialysis, as well as palliative care or Hospice, which allow more people to remain in home and with family comfort
Next week, the Monday Club speaker will be Dr. Vanessa Browne, Rheumatologist at UR Jones Hospital, with the topic :Women and Rheumatology”..
