Dangerous game, indeed. My father’s fairly recent directive was “full code.” He was in final stage heart failure, was on dialysis, and had just had a heart attack. The doctor substituted a DNR, which I learned from grilling a nurse. My Dad was still conscious and lucid, and had a deep faith that he should live each day of the life God gave him. In accordance with his wishes, I found an attorney who would take the case and visit him in the hospital. The full code was reinstated, and my sister and I were gIven health proxy if he was declared incompetent.
The lawyer visited each doctor, department, nurse and the administration.
Copies of my father’s directive and the attorney’s business card were given to everyone involved, including a copy posted on his door.
Nurses and doctors began badgering me, even calling me at his home.
They wanted him to have the, well, Terri Schiavo treatment, since food and water are now considered extreme measures.
Their efforts made the last two weeks of his life very stress filled, and interfered with his ability to spend quiet time with family. The doctor once again substituted a DNR. I spent what turned out to be my Dad’s last day of life dealing with the lawyer and a now hostile doctor.
Other patients’ family members were complaining of efforts to speed their loved ones’ demise. I gave copies of our lawyer’s card to all of them, and was warmly thanked.
I know others make different choices. At the end a person just wants peace of mind, in whatever form that takes.
In our case, they sprang a surprise meeting on a Friday morning (which I later learned was absolutely unethical to do without warning, since the doctor merely said to come in and talk with him, and we were ambushed when we walked in and saw a room full of doctors). The 10 white coats voted in great exasperation to discontinue treatment since we weren't agreeing with them. So the 72 hours began exactly when it would be most difficult to even find anyone in their offices to talk. So while we were calling lawyers and hospitals around the country, the hospital called to say it's too late, since she just had a heart attack and died because of the DNR.
How did it come to the state that our hospitals are filled with hundreds of thousands of people (doctors, nurses, etc.) who have such hostility to those who come for treatment?