Bobert I'm so sorry to hear about your father. He had to spend his final days on a gurney in an emergency room? IMO that's heartbreaking and disgusting!

It used to be that dying - and birthing - were family affairs. People were born and died at home, surrounded by family and friends and aided by the local 'wise women' - the healers and herbalists. People were not taught to fear and avoid death at any cost. It was seen as a most natural, necessary - perhaps even welcome at times - part of life.

And until the spread of modern Christianity people believed in rebirth, too. There was no idea of 'Judgement', of 'Heaven' or 'Hell'. If you hadn't done so well this time around, well, you knew you always had another chance to make good. Sure takes alot of the dread of dying away!

Now I'm not saying we should go back to practicing 'medieval medicine' - that's ridiculous! But I think in some ways we were much more 'humane' in the way we handled death, and the dying, a long time ago. To spend your last moments in the familiarity of your own home, surrounded by loved ones sure beats spending them in a crowded emergency room IMO. It just doesn't profit the medical industry.

Thank you to Mudcat for this chance to express my thoughts!

Healthy blessings to you

daylia