If you had the opportunity to find out how much longer you were predicted to live would you want to know?  You may have the chance shortly. 

According to the New York Times, researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, have developed a geriatric calculator designed to predict the odds of how much longer an individual will live.  To make the predictions, the website will use 18-20 different geriatric prognostic indexes. 

The objective of the website is to provide evaluative information that can be used for health care purposes, such as for nursing home residents. It is hoped that the information gained from the calculations will assist doctors and patients in making health care decisions. 

Life expectancy will often affect medical decisions.  For example, an individual’s age and frailty will have an impact on the type and extent of tests and procedures that will be useful in treating various ailments.     

While the website tries to limit use to health care professionals it appears that entry is based on the honour system – the New York Times did not provide the address to the site on the basis it was still in a testing phase; however, it did report that users were simply asked to confirm they were a health care professional to gain access. 

This leaves open the possibility that casual users, relying on do-it-yourself indexing, will become dismayed that they’re not predicted to have that much longer on the earth (or develop a false sense of security that they have longer than they thought).

It appears that given the opportunity most people would like to know how much longer they’re predicted to live.  The New York Times monitored the responses to its article on geriatric calculators and notes that readers were unanimous in their desire to have access to the information.