Preparing for the Next Pandemic

Foreign Affairs ^ | July/August 2005 | Michael T. Osterholm

[steve86]

I wonder if a layperson would have even a hope of administering Haldol at the correct dosage

The other thing is that a very sick person is not going to accept much in the way of oral medications (I need to sneak into an IV class!).

[Myrddin]

Trying to deal with ARDS would have been a very unpleasant experience over an extended period. When my sister (an RN) went to see my dad, the doctors pulled out his charts. There were brain scans that had been performed, but dad never told anyone. We suspect he had early signs of Alzheimers, Parkinsons or some stroke damage from diabetes that he didn't want to discuss. It was sad to have him go so quickly, but in retrospect he might have had to endure a protracted experience with Alzheimers/Parkinsons. He valued his independence. That would have been intolerable for him.