Life expectancy has increased significantly with the development and discovery of new devices and medicine in the last century. Health technology played a substantial role in this process, making healthcare more accessible to people and improving the quality of life. For example, diagnostic tools, such as wearable trackers, x-ray machines, and other devices, have influenced the speed at which illnesses are diagnosed (The Medical Futurist, 2019). Moreover, such devices impacted the sphere of preventive healthcare, as individuals now can notice if anything has changed in their bodies before any severe conditions develop. Telemedicine is another category of technological advancement that has led to better access to treatment.
The aging population that could live indefinitely would have other needs and encounter new problems with time. For example, a longer lifespan could mean population growth, requiring additional housing, schools, and jobs. The economy would have to adjust and expand to supply people with accommodation and food. People could also develop new diseases or have to receive medical help to support their prolonged lives.
The short story by Vonnegut predicts these outcomes, describing how long lives can lead to conflicts and the lack of personal space and autonomy. Vonnegut (2009) presents a story in which people are happy to be in jail because they spend time alone in a room. The desire for freedom becomes weaker than the want for personal space. The story also demonstrates the deteriorating economic state of households that have to support many generations.
I believe that prolonging life expectancy and combating diseases is a necessary and benevolent pursuit, but people should not live indefinitely. Many diseases make people suffer and experience pain, such as Alzheimer’s or cardiovascular disease, and eradicating these conditions could increase the quality of life (TEDx Talks, 2018). However, as noted above, the potential negative consequences of living forever could create social and economic problems that would result in endless lives being miserable rather than happy and fulfilled.
References
TEDx Talks. (2018). Thriving longer: The future of aging | Dr. Mark Allen | TEDxPaloAlto [Video]. YouTube. Web.
The Medical Futurist. (2019). 20 medical technology advances: Medicine in the future – Part I. Web.
Vonnegut, K. (2009). The big trip up yonder [eBook]. Project Gutenberg.