How many people would actually choose to spend $18,000 of their *own* money to extend their lives by 6 months (and probably with very low quality of life), rather than leave the $18,000 to their children, spouse, or charity? It makes no sense to expect public health programs or private insurance programs to shell out colossal amounts of money for brief extensions of the lives of terminally ill patients, when most people wouldn’t want to spend their own hard-earned money that way. And of course the cost of the drug is just the beginning, as there will be other medical expenses during those 6 months, and rarely any economic productivity from the patient.
Exactly my point.
If folks want to pay for every possible life-extending treatment, regardless of cost, outcome, or benefit; then fine... they can do that.
But, people really shouldn’t expect complete strangers to value THEIR lives so much that we are willing to pay any price to give them a few more months.