On the one hand, we hope that science will make it possible for "more of our life to be healthier, fuller, more active." On the other hand, it is possible that "we are headed toward expansion of morbidity," in which medicine extends lives beset by chronic illnesses and deterioration.
The National Audit Office explains it this way: "There has been an expansion of morbidity (the number of years in poor health) for both males and females as there were larger increases in life expectancy compared with healthy life expectancy.