Religious Belief Linked to Desire for Aggressive Treatment in Terminal Patients

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/18/health/research/18faith.html?ref=health
I find it very interesting that those patients who are more religious are also more likely to seek "aggressive, life-prolonging care in the week before they died." Such aggressive care is analogous to ventilators and other life-prolonging techniques.

I have to say that I'm extremely suprised. Like the article mentioned, one would think that those who are religious place higher faith in God and are less scared to die. Because, what we do in the moments, or the week before death is all about fear. Almost everyone fears dying. And I guess it's been the stereotype that "good Christians" don't fear death. They shouldn't because death means the start of a new life with God in Heaven (unless they are destined for hell). Perhaps THAT is why religious people are more likely to use life-prolonguing care in the week before their death. Because, as they are laying in the hospital bed, anticipating their own death, all they have to think about is what they did during life. And when these people go back and look at their lives, I'm sure they're nervous about if they'll wind up in heaven or not. Maybe that's why religious people opt for life-prolonguing techniques more than non-religious people.

Either way, I think it's suprising and interesting. What also suprises me is that religious people place faith over the opinions of their family, friends, known medical information and sometimes even doctors. At what point does being religious become detrimental to your health? At what point can religion become a negative thing?