there is a current debate as to whether or not the pursuit of longevity and the postponement of senescence are cost-effective health care goals given finite health care resources. because of the accumulated infirmities of old age, bioethicist ezekiel emanuel, opines that the pursuit of longevity via the compression of morbidity hypothesis is a "fantasy" and that human life is not worth living after age 75; longevity then should not be a goal of health care policy. this opinion has been contested by neurosurgeon and medical ethicist miguel faria, who states that life can be worthwhile during old age, and that longevity should be pursued in association with the attainment of quality of life. faria claims that postponement of senescence as well as happiness and wisdom can be attained in old age in a large proportion of those who lead healthy lifestyles and remain intellectually active.