Why not add a short summary for the benefit of other members?
Thanks for providing the summary.It is a good article. The author, a doctor, explains that many doctors forgo active treatment for themselves in terminal situations. They see the futility and negative outcomes of aggressive treatment on a daily basis and opt out for themselves. Yet patients' miscommunications and the system's defaults drive toward over treatment. One of the most interesting things he asserts is that CPR is counterproductive:"Many people think of CPR as a reliable lifesaver when, in fact, the results are usually poor. I’ve had hundreds of people brought to me in the emergency room after getting CPR. Exactly one, a healthy man who’d had no heart troubles (for those who want specifics, he had a “tension pneumothorax”), walked out of the hospital. If a patient suffers from severe illness, old age, or a terminal disease, the odds of a good outcome from CPR are infinitesimal, while the odds of suffering are overwhelming."I am not sure of that. I think if I was to collapse today with a heart attack I would want DW to try some chest compressions. There are a lot of people walking around 10 - 20 years after surgery for heart problems. But, I have often thought that the best thing for an 80+ person passed out with a heart attack would be to sit quietly with them for an hour or two before calling it in.
DW and I have been dealing with the tendency to over respond with my FiL who is in late stage Alzheimers. We get calls about weekly from the night nurses that he has fallen and hit his head. On two occasions they were inclined to take him to a hospital even though we have clear instructions to the contrary. If he has a brain bleed, the last thing we want to do is treat it. But it is very hard to hear of accidents and the like and not overreact. He entered hospice on Friday (within the same facility) so it should be much easier for all parties to proceed rationally going forward.
If the approach to death and dying in the article appeals to you, I urge you to find out more about an organization called "Compassion and Choices". They lobby for changes to the laws that make this type of death difficult to achieve.
DW and I are in the process of having a revocable living trust and accompanying living wills prepared. We intend to document our intentions with regard to end of life care so that our children and our doctors know what we do and do not want.
Providing summaries is a courtesy to other members so they know the nature of a link before opening it. If a summary does not do justice to a well written article, a short description of the link will suffice. Community rules saySometimes a piece is so well written that to summarize it takes away from it. I think this article fits the bill.
This line, posted by donheff, was very helpful.Please do not post “naked” links, defined as links posted without explanation, interpretation or context.
The author, a doctor, explains that many doctors forgo active treatment for themselves in terminal situations.
Sometimes a piece is so well written that to summarize it takes away from it. I think this article fits the bill.
Maybe I should have DNR tattooed on my chest.
Ohio DNR law information link provided by Marietta Memorial HospitalI want to have all the paperwork in place, but don't have any local friends or relatives.
Maybe I should have DNR tattooed on my chest.
I want to have all the paperwork in place, but don't have any local friends or relatives.
Maybe I should have DNR tattooed on my chest.
Kind of my way of thinking as well. The title does give the potential readers an idea of the subject content.
Sorry, but your simple "interesting read" comment and then the title "How Doctors Die" doesn't really tell me much about the subject content. The article could have been about how doctors have access to elite care, or go to international centers, or ignore treatment altogether, or smoke more than others, or commit suicide (not that any of the preceding are true).
I want to have all the paperwork in place, but don't have any local friends or relatives.
Maybe I should have DNR tattooed on my chest.
Better spell it out if you do so they won't think the acronym stands for Department of Natural Resources...
They're calling because they're required to notify you, right? Otherwise they're following his treatment plan and his DNR, or at least putting themselves in a position to be reminded to follow them? Hopefully they're calling more for "full disclosure" and not to start a coercive argument. I worry about this when I get those types of calls.DW and I have been dealing with the tendency to over respond with my FiL who is in late stage Alzheimers. We get calls about weekly from the night nurses that he has fallen and hit his head. On two occasions they were inclined to take him to a hospital even though we have clear instructions to the contrary. If he has a brain bleed, the last thing we want to do is treat it. But it is very hard to hear of accidents and the like and not overreact. He entered hospice on Friday (within the same facility) so it should be much easier for all parties to proceed rationally going forward.
It's posters with that way of thinking who are responsible for the rule. Otherwise we wouldn't need the rule...Kind of my way of thinking as well. The title does give the potential readers an idea of the subject content.
The staff are quite good and are calling out of obligation. Lots of relatives would be bent out of shape if they were not notified of every hiccup. Unfortunately, when they call they will suggest a hospital if, as an example, he has a bad nose bleed from a fall that doesn't stop bleeding quickly. That one was hard to judge -- after a while it cleared up. We also had a hospital recommendation when he was somewhat unresponsive after a fall. That one seemed easier to react to -- we would not want a CAT scan to look for brain bleeds or other damage. We don't want FIL to experience pain or discomfort but we don't want to do anything to intentionally prolong the decline. You get caught up in a lot of doubt, uncertainty and guilt over this. You never know whether you are doing the right thing or the wrong thing.They're calling because they're required to notify you, right? Otherwise they're following his treatment plan and his DNR, or at least putting themselves in a position to be reminded to follow them? Hopefully they're calling more for "full disclosure" and not to start a coercive argument. I worry about this when I get those types of calls.
The progression. They evaluated him for hospice a few months ago and decided to wait. This time they think he is ready. As you know from your research, this could be a long process and he could improve and come back out of hospice. Alzheimers isn't a fast disease.Was the hospice decision coming from the falls or from the progress of Alzheimer's?
My belated condolences...For ten months of this year, it seemed like every time I stepped foot out of my house, I was going to a cancer medical center, a nursing home or hospitals. I've seen so much suffering...