[l2ridehd]

Very thought provoking article. I have always said and in fact have a living will that says the same, do only reasonable efforts only. And take as many body parts that still work for who ever they may help. However you may get there and no one knows your wishes. I like the tattoo idea.



http://zocalopublicsquare.org/thepub...ie/read/nexus/

[angiefox10]

This is such a good post. How many times I've seen the doctors continue to work on a patient until the quality of life for everyone involved is gone and when the person does leave the world it's a relief to all. It goes far past reasonable, when even the doctors know that what they are doing isn't working.

[BogeyBoy]

Thanks for sharing this article.

[4glori]

I hope I am as brave when the time comes as this doctor. In the meantime should I have no choice, my ducks are already in a row with my kids and lawyer. thank you for sharing this awesome article.

[SgtJohn]

Great Article. Thanks

[2BNTV]

A thoughtful and intelligent article. Something to really consider as I believe in quality and well as the quantity of life.

I hope to be that brave in my choices.

[whartonjelly]

As an RN, the only personal successful CPR pt , was a sudden death experienced by my brother in law. He had a walk around the office building with a coworker , returned to the office and dropped dead. His coworker started CPR, the Hospital was only minutes away. They immediated reduced his temp for days it seemed, but he recovered without any damage to his heart. They put in a defibrillator in case he ever experienced a fatal arrythmia again. He was only in his early 50's. He is still working full time, has been advanced in his job and living a full life. THIS is a very unusual outcome. Most pts I personally have done CPR on in the hospital, if successful, most died again within hours.

Live each day as if it were your last. Have a living will read outloud to your family while you still can and EXPLAIN why.

CPR is for a sudden UNEXPECTED death of a heart that is too good to die.

[ilovetv]

This quoted reader review below the linked essay says it best. To me, the central point is valid, but there are way too many blanket statements in the article.

There are many cancer survivors and survivors of other dreaded diseases/attacks that are walking around living a beautiful and happy life, years after onset, when doctors said they probably would not survive.

It would be wise to consider God's power, and why certain people, like Rev. Linda in the comments below, gives a much deeper perspective.

See:

Rev. Linda says:
December 7, 2011 at 9:21 am

I am sorry you are so cynical. While many of your points are valid, not all are valid on a large scale. My father had a massive stroke. When he seemed to be getting worse, we consented to his being moved from ICU, so the bed could be used for someone “who might benefit from it.” After more than a week in a coma, he came to and began talking! He lived an additional 17 years. While he was limited to walking with a cane and unable to do many of the things he once enjoyed, he walked me down the aisle, 5 years after he supposedly would not get any better, and we later took a family trip of 1400 miles so my husband and I could visit the place where my grandparents lived.

And I know of a 60 year old lawyer who should have died over a year ago because of an inoperable brain tumor. He has aggressively pursued every avenue of chemotherapy open to him and has vastly beaten the odds. He has accomplished more in the past year than I have in the past 5! He is struggling again and once again is trying a new treatment plus meds which reduce the swelling. He continues to be able to practice law and the location of the tumor is such that he is virtually pain free He recently was able to take a wonderful balloon ride arranged by his kids.

Even the best doctors sometimes are surprised by the ability of a patient to overcome what should be a terminal illness for fairly long periods of time. And I too doubt the blanket statement that Doctors die without attempting therapy. I would like to hear from someone else in the medical profession with a different perspective.

[Mudder]

Very interesting article that everyone should read. We need to have a choice to die as we want.

[2BNTV]

On second thought, there is a lot of gray area in these types of decisions. It seems that every situation is different and one needs to decide for themselves what is the best course of action is for them and what their treatment should be. Hopefully, we will be in a position to decide for ourselves and or have paperwork detailing what care is acceptable and what is not.

Maybe I'm wrong and frequently am but I am under the impression that doctor's will not acceed to the family's wishes unless it is in writing especially when the patient is unable to communicate.

Several case in recent years like the person in a car accident and the family's hands were tied by what the law stated.

Maybe it's time to review my health rider that instructs the family onto what measures are to be taken.

[SALYBOW]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

Very thought provoking article. I have always said and in fact have a living will that says the same, do only reasonable efforts only. And take as many body parts that still work for who ever they may help. However you may get there and no one knows your wishes. I like the tattoo idea.



http://zocalopublicsquare.org/thepub...ie/read/nexus/

My son is a doctor and whenever we are discussing whether to have a procedure done he said one should ask if having the procedure will improve the quanitly and the Quaily of one's life. If death is not imminent one should ask if the procedure will change the scope of treatment or just confirm the diagnosis.
As a chaplain I have seen people hang on to their loved ones forever putting them through a horrible amount of suffering. When you are making the very tough decisions that come with End of Life, always discern who's need is being served, the patients or your own. Are you just not ready to let go? Please have a serious discussion with those you love about their end of life decisions. In the State of Florida one must complete a medical surrogate document in order for a person to speak for a loved one if they cannot speak for themselves. They do not offer resiciprosity with other State's documents. Hubby and I have an appointment to fill ours out next week. It is one of our gifts to each other.

[cappyjon431]

Thank you for posting this article-for me it was very timely. I just finished writing my living will and giving medical power of attorney to my wife and the article affirmed my choices and the importance of dying with dignity.

[carol_piirto]

Certainly there is more than one manner of dying. But your article was very telling in describing some dr.'s end of life wishes. Thank you for sharing the info! As an active 57 year old Villager, one who has had 3 bouts of cancer, I AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITH THE ARTICLE. Hmmm, I think I'm going to get a NO CODE tattoo! Be well.

[CaptJohn]

Originally Posted by carol_piirto

Hmmm, I think I'm going to get a NO CODE tattoo! Be well.

Now that got me to thinking. It's in writing! Maybe add: Do not resuscitate. But where to put it?

[rubicon]

My wife and I completed a revocable living trust shortly after moving to Florida, which includes medial dirrectives ,etc. Since we are now settled in we wil proceed to complete our funeral arrangements.