# Would you take a pill that would guarantee you another 15 years of life? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 27, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785 "2006-12-27T20:24:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/1 "2006-12-27T20:24:25Z")
Ok, more to the point; If you could take a pill that would guarantee that you not die of any health related issues in the next fifteen years would you take it? At what point in your life would you take it? Now, or wait till your older? Why? * * * You can’t use it on your death bed, or to ward off cancer (or some like desease) if you already have the desease. It must be taken while you’re generally in good health and not on death’s door. I could see some peope choosing _now_ maybe if you have kids and you want to see them grow up without keeling over from a heart attack. I can also see you waiting till maybe you retire so you can live fifteen years past that, but you also take the risk of keeling over before that time. If you wait till you’re older, how old would you like to live? If you take it now, you’re guaranteed fifteen more years, how re-assuring would that be? ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/2 "2006-12-27T20:28:07Z")
If it maintained my health in its current state (while allowing for improvements), tentatively yes. However, I would want to know what happens at the end of the 15 years. If all the avoided decrepitude cathes up with you, the deal’s off. ---
**Author:** ![Autumn\_Almanac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Autumn\_Almanac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autumn_Almanac)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/3 "2006-12-27T20:29:52Z")
I’d wait until my wife is pregnant with our first kid, then take the pill. If there’s any 15 year period that I absolutely positively want to be alive for, it’s my kid’s (or kids’) childhood. ---
**Author:** ![Smooth\_Jack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8c91f0/32.png) [@Smooth\_Jack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smooth_Jack)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/4 "2006-12-27T20:30:34Z")
Sure. I’d take the pill early, and as often as possible. Unless this is one of those Monkey’s Paw scenarios where you die a horrible death at the stroke of midnight on the last day. Or, maybe scientists can create this pill only from the pulvarized bones of sacrificed infants. Then, nope, not for me. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/5 "2006-12-27T20:35:56Z")
Too late. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2006, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/6 "2006-12-27T20:40:43Z")
I would take one to make sure my kids get through college and maybe a little after but no more after that. It would be a dangerous things for me. I have a tendency to fall straight into hedonism which is fine at first but will transform itself into a hellish nightmare in short order. I have seen the face of the beast plenty of times and I don’t need some type of additional protection convincing me to take more chances. Plus, your pill doesn’t protect against accidental death and that would be the most likely scenario for my age group (100% true story. I was on the phone with my wife when I was writing this and I found out that a family friend tripped and fell while holding a large bowl this weekend and died 3 hours later. My step-grandmother died from pain medication withdrawal when she ran out on Christmas Eve. She was an addict and 93). ---
**Author:** ![DJ\_Motorbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DJ\_Motorbike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DJ_Motorbike)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/7 "2006-12-28T00:08:04Z")
I think I’d wait another five to ten years - then take it. I’m in pretty good health for my age - 30. I wouldn’t want this choice, though. I have this sneaking suspicion that the universe conspires against me. If the option presented itself and I declined the pill to wait a few years I would, the next day, develop a malignant tumor which would kill me within a month. However without this choice I would remain healthy for the course of a normal lifetime. Fricking Twilight Zone - my life. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/8 "2006-12-28T00:40:49Z")
[QUOTE=Ethilrist] Too late. [/QUOTE] Cryptic much? You can only take the pill once, and no, you won’t have any conditions ‘catch up’ with you after the fifteenth year. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/9 "2006-12-28T00:47:45Z")
I can easily see myself choking on the stupid pill only to find God rolling on the floor laughing. No thanks. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/10 "2006-12-28T01:23:43Z")
I think I’d wait about 15 years, then take it. My assumption here is that if I have no health related issues I would’ve died from for the 15 years I’ve chosen (ages 58-73), then I’d probably be in pretty good shape to last another 15 years after that…which would get me to 88. Close enough, I reckon. ---
**Author:** ![brendon\_small](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brendon_small/32/17101_2.png) [@brendon\_small](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brendon_small)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/11 "2006-12-28T01:29:55Z")
Well, I’m 20 - and in good health. I’d give it away. Honest. Mrs. Small has a heart condition and could use something like that a lot more than I could. Of course, if it only worked for me, I’d instantly think to take it when Mrs. Small delivers BabySmall in 8 months, as I wouldn’t want to miss those years, but I am pretty healthy and I figure it might be better to hold on to that for something else…like when I’m 50 and wanting to retire… Brendon ---
**Author:** ![Adoptamom\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Adoptamom\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adoptamom_II)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/12 "2006-12-28T02:00:24Z")
I’ve always felt that I would pass away at an early age I think I’d take it now. I’m 45, my youngest two children are 14 & 15, Mr. AdoptaMom and I have shared a wonderful 20 years, and we were blessed with two granddaughters this year. I would hope the pill has a side effect of helping me quit smoking so that I can use the guaranteed 15 years to improve my health and hopefully live well beyond. If I could see our youngest children into adulthood, my grandchildren into their teen years, and have 15 more great years with DH I would be more than satisfied with my life as a whole. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/13 "2006-12-28T02:49:28Z")
Hmmm, I’m 45 and I think I’d take it. Then I would _know_ I would be alive for 15 years and would probably take care of my health. THing is,t he OP doesn’t include a downside to this pill, that I can see. ---
**Author:** ![Unintentionally\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unintentionally_blank/32/5418_2.png) [@Unintentionally\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unintentionally_Blank)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/14 "2006-12-28T02:59:17Z")
Just got done vising my 95 year old Grandfather. he’s got adema, congestive heart failure, dimensia, a catheter, and lost his teeth (false), he’s living at subsistence level in a Life Care facility with a roommate in a 12x18 room. I’ve never wished to die young til now. It was a VERY depressing visit. My father died at 62…while I really wish he hadn’t passed, he was vital, lucid, and went out in fairly good health. If you’d asked me yesterday, I’d say sure. Today, I dunno. ---
**Author:** ![Phantom\_Dennis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@Phantom\_Dennis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phantom_Dennis)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/15 "2006-12-28T03:16:26Z")
Interesting question. I think the replies of the other posters in this thread have colored my response though, since a lot of good points have been addressed. I’d immediately give it to my dad, who’s 75 and still in good health. I’d be so happy if I knew he was going to be alive at age 90. Barring that, I would not be tempted to take the pill now. I’m only 28 and my health is good to excellent. I think I’d wait as long as possible – even if it means I might not be able to use it. Life is a gamble anyway, so what the heck. I’d probably try to hold off until my late 60s or early 70s – possibly even later depending on my health. I imagine I would change my mind if/when I have kids though. Having a 100% guarantee of being able to see them grow up (mostly) would be a lot more valuable than ensuring that I live to be a ripe old age. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/16 "2006-12-28T03:16:32Z")
There are things a lot worse than dying. One is living with unbearable pain. I’ve had pain bad enough that if I hadn’t known I was going to get better, I wouldn’t have been able to bear it. So I would want to take anything that would trap me into living with pain. Besides, I don’t fear death so much anymore. I sure would hate to miss _Boston Legal_ though. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/17 "2006-12-28T10:21:37Z")
This question was sponsored in part by the IRS. And now to our sponsors… “Take the Pill. Live Longer! Pay More Taxes!” ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/18 "2006-12-28T11:17:51Z")
[QUOTE=Ethilrist] Too late. [/QUOTE] Me too. I’m already 61, with several health issues, some of which could be life threatening if they get worse. So am I ineligible to even get the pill, or would it keep me from getting worse until I’m 76? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/19 "2006-12-28T12:27:58Z")
I would hide such a pill from my grandparents. He: obsexed. In good health except for having no intestines. Had a stroke in February; achieved 90% recovery in less than a month. 92yo. She: knows how he is but will be convinced that the woman whose ass he grabbed on the subway was provoking, since she happened to have an ass. In good health. 93yo. Both: deaf (partly from wax buildup, every time that we manage to drag them to the ear doc they’re surprised by the effect). Masters of manipulation. They love driving their descendants crazy. They’ve forbidden each other from dying. We have bets running on when will they croak and who’ll go first. My own bet is: grandpa first, will pass 95, Grandma will pass 100. The last thing my family needs is for those two to hang around even longer. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2006, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785/20 "2006-12-28T14:36:44Z")
[QUOTE=Uncommon Sense] Cryptic much? You can only take the pill once, and no, you won’t have any conditions ‘catch up’ with you after the fifteenth year. [/QUOTE] I already have the disease that’s going to kill me, so, too late. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-take-a-pill-that-would-guarantee-you-another-15-years-of-life/385785.md?page=2)