Discussion Board

Does it seem that expensive medical care often only increases suffering? Is this something you will think about "later"?

See

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/31/opini ... obal-home#

from the article:

"There is a clear contradiction between the value that American society places on personal choice and Americans’ reluctance to make their own decisions, insofar as possible, about the care they will receive as death nears."

Please vote in the poll and share your comments!

Well Pinkrose, I am kind of assuming I have a little more time to think about it. Obviously by McDougalling before I have any obvious disease, I am trying to make sure that I remain active and self propelling into extreme old age. I don't want to be a burden to my relatives or the NHS. I have seen too much of that.

My husband says to me if ever he is a vegetable I should pull the plug! But of course if he is ever a vegetable I shall put him on the compost heap

Neither of us has written a 'living will'.

Sue

The very best diet and exercise program is no guarantee of a long, disease-free life. Misfortune can strike anyone at any time.

Yes, I have a will, a health-care power of attorney, and a statement of conditions for end of life. If the chances of me recovering fully, for at least five years, are less than 50/50, then pull the plug! I have chosen the most severe options: no food, no medication (except pain killer), no water, no air. Let me die a natural death.

I don't want my money going to support hospitals. I want to leave it -- small though the amount is -- to my favorite charity.

LOL!!! Now that's funny!

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Yes, I have a will, a health-care power of attorney, and a statement of conditions for end of life. I have chosen the most severe options: no food, no medication (except pain killer), no water, no air. Let me die a natural death.

I want to leave it -- small though the amount is -- to my favorite charity

Yes I went this way too.All documented,legally,signed sealed and delivered.Just don't have it written on my chest yet! I am not kidding....if I were to drop at the mall or some-where and the EMt's arrive they will start cpr. RAS

I am not sure which states have: POLST (Physician's Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) is a physician's order that gives patients more control over their end-of-life care. In the islands, it is a documented green sheet for CareGivers and EMs to follow and goes with the patient to the hospital if need be, that opens the communication so there will be no misunderstanding of their advance directive. Kokua Mau has QA information page: http://www.kokuamau.org/professionals/polst

Aloha, patty

Here is a link to see which states have or are in the process of having a POLST: http://www.ohsu.edu/polst/

I, too, have a will, a durable power of attorney for health care, and I have taken care of the disposal of my remains as follows: http://medcure.org/ No muss, no fuss.

This is such an interesting and provocative topic.
I have learned in the last few years that it isn't so simple all the time.

Yes, sometimes it is clear cut. OUr friend had a massive stroke. The doctors said he will never regain his mind...he was "brain dead." That's easy to pull the plug.

But 2 other times in my life not easy at all. First of all there was no plug! It was treat or not to treat.
My father was very ill...we didn't know what...it was puzzling all the drs. He went into seizures and then pulminary distress...was unconscious. The choice came up. intubate or not. We thought the docs could still figure out what was wrong and cure him so I chose to intubate.
They brought him back, as they termed it, and then in the following weeks got a diagnosis of ALS. He had a horrible 8 weeks and then died. It was atypical ALS and sometimes I still question that...but it doesn't matter. It was a mistake to intubate...he said it was the worst experience of his life. He didn't blame me...I don't think he even realized it was a decision I made...but I regret it.

And on the other hand, my mother, who has ALL my life told me to pull the plug...do not leave her in a painful life or a severely compromised life....got very sick a year ago and I won't detail...but she made 3 choices involving operations and pain...in an ER situation....that kept her alive when she had the possibility of great pain and disability ahead of her. After, awhile after, I asked her about those choices. I told her based on everything I knew about her wishes, that if I had been in charge of the decision I would have refused treatment. She said, that's ok...that would have been ok. YET, she chose treatment!
And she had great struggle for 6 months and then healed and is living independently and very close to a normal life at age 85.

So, the decisions are hard. They come up very quickly and we all just have to do the best we can.

I think one of the biggest issues right now for elderly people is physician assisted suicide which I am in favor of.
I meet many older people in my family and friends and in my profession. They are, to a one, terrified of being forced to live in exruciating pain/disability...or being so disabled they cannot take care of the details of personal care etc. We live in Washington where we do have assisted suicide but not for pain. You have to have 6 months or less to live. The doctors can patch us up to live...but in some cases...what a terrible life.
Riva
Riva

Thankfully my late husband and I had all our legal documents (Living Will, Health Care Power of Attorney, General POA, and Will) drawn up and executed when we were around 40 years old. Little did we know he would die at age 48 from leukemia. I have continued to update mine as necessary. Having seen the devastating effects of cancer on him and my mother I want to make sure my wishes are well known. I'm a nurse and I know things can happen in the hospital setting. I want no intubation, no artificial hydration or nutritions, no heroics. I did make my attorney put in a statement that I wanted the maximum non-lethal amount of pain medication. I am also a proponent of physician-assisted suicide. I think my mother would have been a prime candidate for that as she was in so much pain for the last year of her life.

Working as a home health aide... the lesson I see in practice over and over is learning there is a difference between being lonely and alone. There is no retirement:) Death is a process of constantly restructuring itself of being inclusive of every point being the center of every other point.

Aloha, patty