Why dying wishes so often go unfulfilled

Plus: AI models' bias toward Western moral values ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

US Edition - Today's top story: Most Americans prefer to die at home, but the US healthcare system often prevents it View in browser 14 July 2026 US Edition   Top headlines Politicized 250th at odds with Americans’ interest in unity Mixed-up speech gives linguists window into mind Video: How to avoid food parasite causing explosive diarrhea Lead story One unarguably universal truth is that we will all face death – both for ourselves and our loved ones. And when we do, it stands to reason that most of us would prefer to have as much say as possible over the quality of our final months, weeks and days, including where we die. But too often, the U.S. healthcare system results in a cascade of hospitalizations and unintentional decisions that prevent people from being able to live out their wishes, explain medical sociologist Karen Lutfey Spencer and Jane Callahan, an end-of-life doula who is studying mental health counseling. Spencer and Callahan describe specific ways that patients and their loved ones can gain more control over their plans at earlier stages during illness and end of life, and ways that the healthcare system can help support them. “When caregivers and patients feel empowered in the choices they make toward the end of life, the dying process can happen with fewer shocks and emergencies – and more intention, care and dignity,” they write. [ Sign up for our weekly Global Economy & Business newsletter, with expert perspectives from around the world. ]   Amanda Mascarelli Senior Health and Medicine Editor + Global Health Project Director   Talking about the dying process early can be supportive for caregivers and their loved ones. AlexanderFord/E+ via Getty Images Most Americans prefer to die at home, but the US healthcare system often prevents it Karen Lutfey Spencer, University of Colorado Denver; Jane Callahan, North Carolina Central University ‘Fix-it’ medical approaches often go against people’s wishes near the end of life, creating unnecessary and preventable suffering. Ethics + Religion Large language models often prioritize Western moral values, overlooking other cultures Aliah Zewail, UMass Amherst; Alexandra Figueroa, University of California, Berkeley Generative AI’s overemphasis on Western moral concerns could reinforce global disparities in sensitive applications such as public health messaging and global communication. 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