88-YEAR-OLD ALOIS KRAL HAS JUST GONE THROUGH TRIPLE BYPASS SURGERY, A PROCEDURE THAT USED TO BE RESERVED ONLY FOR THOSE WITH MORE YEARS AHEAD OF THEM.

Alois Kral: "I am very happy because the people from now on, I hope, get to feel just like I do right now."

JUST 10 YEARS AGO, ALOIS WOULD HAVE BEEN DENIED SURGERY AND GIVEN SIX MONTHS TO LIVE. HIS FAMILY CAN'T IMAGINE THAT ALTERNATIVE.

Christie Kral, Alois' daughter: "I probably would have screamed, yelled, hollered, and tried to find somebody that would do it."

WE ALL WANT LOVED ONES WITH US LONGER, BUT WITH AN EVER-INCREASING NUMBER OF PATIENTS OVER 80, MEDICAL MIRACLES TAX THE SYSTEM.

Dr. Harold Koenig: “I don’t think that cost is an issue. But I think that soon it will be an issue and I think we have to confront that reality.”

DUKE UNIVERSITY’S DR. HAROLD KOENIG IS NOT ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE OBVIOUS STRAIN ON MEDICARE. HE ALSO WARNS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT CHOOSE LIFE-EXTENDING TREATMENTS WITHOUT WEIGHING THE TRUE RESULTS.

Dr. Harold Koenig: “When the primary focus is on the quantity of life, I think that’s when people get into trouble, because that’s when the quality of their life can become very, very poor. And they regret decisions they make.”

GERIATRIC SURGERIES ARE NOT ALWAYS LIFE-OR-DEATH CHOICES. KNEE AND HIP REPLACEMENTS WERE ONCE CUT OFF AT 65. WHO AMONG US WOULD WANT TO DENY OUR PARENTS, OR OURSELVES, A FULLER LIFE?

Alois Kral: "If it's a baby and you can help it, help it. If it's a person who can't even walk and needs a little help, help them."