Comfort or Control? A Critical Examination of Hospice Care and Coercion in the Modern Healthcare System

ABSTRACT This article critiques the darker dimensions of hospice care and the coercive undercurrents of the broader healthcare system. Drawing on empirical studies, ethical analyses, and personal narratives, it argues that while hospice care is often idealized as compassionate end-of-life care, it can mask systemic neglect, profit motives, and disempowerment of patients. Similarly, coercion—both overt and subtle—pervades healthcare decision-making, particularly in mental health and end-of-life contexts. Through examination of institutional failures, Medicare exploitation, and ethical frameworks, this analysis reveals how systems designed to provide comfort, and care can paradoxically become mechanisms of control and neglect. The article calls for increased transparency, accountability, and ethical vigilance in reforming hospice oversight and addressing coercive healthcare practices. Keywords: Hospice care, healthcare coercion, medical ethics, end-of-life care, patient autonomy