Question

One of the consequences of improved medical care is that people are living longer and life expectancy is increasing. Do you think the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

Answer 1

Over the past 50 years, pople have become used to the idea that they will probably live longer than their grandparents did. However, a longer life is only desirable if you can look after yourself and be independent, otherwise there can be disadvantages for everyone.

If you walk into a hospital in my country, you are likely to see a lot more elderly people than you did in the past. In fact, this is causing significant problems as there is a shortage of beds. Medical treatment is keeping the elderly alive, but at what cost to others?

On top of this, one of the biggest medical problems these days is demenia. Even if old people are still fit, they may not be able to look after themselves. They may have to live with their children or be cared for in a home, which can be expensive. Elderly people do not like to be a burden, but their children can feel obliged to care for them.

Obviously, not all old people become ill. Those who remain healthy can enjoy a happy old age as long as they have saved enough money. People are much more active in their sixties and seventies than they used to be and this can only be a good thing. They have time to enjoy their retirement and do a range of activities that they could not do when they were at work. They can also help look after their grandchildren, which is a great benefit for working parents.

To sum up, I believe that we should aim to keep people as healthy as possible so that they can enjoy their old age without having to rely on others. A longer life expectancy is obviously advantageous, but no one wants to live to be 100 if they only cause problems for their family and society. 

Answer 2

Over the decade, the modern medical care system and research facilities in the healthcare sector have been creating tremendous miracles. With the improvement of comprehensive medical care and treatments, the life expectancy of people has enhanced and improved. This situation has some positive aspects along with some drawbacks. However, I believe the former outweighs the latter.

With the ultra-modern and advanced medical facilities, the medical system has transformed and cured many fatal diseases, improving people’s lifespan. On the one hand, some people claim that increasing life expectancy increases the ratio of the older population. The interesting fact is that these elderly people remain active and energetic in their workplace. They even contribute to society even during their retirement age remarkably. In addition, the older people are an asset for the country as they will teach values and traditions to the younger generation, which would help the younger ones better understand the past.

On the other hand, there are several drawbacks of longer life expectancy. The predominant evidence is that not everyone can afford first-class treatment as it costs a fortune. Moreover, the need for doctors, nurses, and hospitals will increase gradually if there’s a surge in the number of older adults getting affected by diseases. Older people are more prone to infections. Consequently, resources will be scarce in the hospitals. The government will then have to support and fund the treatment costs and hospital resources, which would require a considerable sum of money.

To conclude, although enhanced life expectancy is a blessing, it is not without disadvantages. In my view, life expectancy outweighs its drawbacks as improvement in the medical care system in the country will undoubtedly decrease the death rate caused by fatal diseases. Further, I believe that people should improve their lifestyle and lead a healthy life.