If someone wants their care handled in a particular manner, there are 3 things that have to happen. First, one's family must be on board about this. If there is ambivalence or disagreement in the family, these things will manifest themselves in time of crisis. Second, one's primary medical caregiver must agree to follow one's wishes as much as they can. If this caregiver is unwilling or unable to do so, find a new one before a crisis. Third, if you want to be treated a certain way, stay out of the system. Medical people (for those who don't know, I'm an RN) operate in certain ways. Expecting them to do otherwise is usually futile. Medallions, tattoos or other instructions have no force of law and will be ignored. And medical people WILL follow their specialty. Don't want surgery? Don't go to a surgeon. Don't want chemotherapy? Don't go to an oncologist. You get the picture.
Excellent article and I wish everybody would read it. I am a physical therapist with 18 years of experience in hospitals (including ICUs), nursing homes, and physical rehabilitation centers. My primary MD recently retired, and the first thing I discussed with his replacement was end-of-life care (I am 42), my wish for no heroics, no resuscitation, and that "if I can't communicate my desire for the treatment, assume the answer is NO!" He knew exactly where I was coming from! I have frequently compared much of the health care I see to torture "we would not inflict on a terrorist" or expressed that I would rather be waterboarded. I couldn't believe the doctor was pointing out the same thing. There are hours worth of discussion possible on this topic, but from a Christian perspective, I am always perplexed by the Christians who state they are assured of being present with the Lord after death and then fight death at every single opportunity (even when very futile). I have only concluded they have a very deep well of doubt in spite of what they claim.
3 comments:
If someone wants their care handled in a particular manner, there are 3 things that have to happen. First, one's family must be on board about this. If there is ambivalence or disagreement in the family, these things will manifest themselves in time of crisis. Second, one's primary medical caregiver must agree to follow one's wishes as much as they can. If this caregiver is unwilling or unable to do so, find a new one before a crisis. Third, if you want to be treated a certain way, stay out of the system. Medical people (for those who don't know, I'm an RN) operate in certain ways. Expecting them to do otherwise is usually futile. Medallions, tattoos or other instructions have no force of law and will be ignored. And medical people WILL follow their specialty. Don't want surgery? Don't go to a surgeon. Don't want chemotherapy? Don't go to an oncologist. You get the picture.
Excellent article and I wish everybody would read it. I am a physical therapist with 18 years of experience in hospitals (including ICUs), nursing homes, and physical rehabilitation centers. My primary MD recently retired, and the first thing I discussed with his replacement was end-of-life care (I am 42), my wish for no heroics, no resuscitation, and that "if I can't communicate my desire for the treatment, assume the answer is NO!" He knew exactly where I was coming from!
I have frequently compared much of the health care I see to torture "we would not inflict on a terrorist" or expressed that I would rather be waterboarded. I couldn't believe the doctor was pointing out the same thing.
There are hours worth of discussion possible on this topic, but from a Christian perspective, I am always perplexed by the Christians who state they are assured of being present with the Lord after death and then fight death at every single opportunity (even when very futile). I have only concluded they have a very deep well of doubt in spite of what they claim.
And I second everthing Jim Huffman said.
Post a Comment