[wagglebee]

You are right. But can you think of a single circumstance under non-catastrophic conditions (i.e. after a earthquake, hurricane, etc. that taxes the resources of hospitals) when a tracheotomy is currently considered extraordinary in an American or Canadian hospital.

[goat granny]

I have taken care of thousands of patients over my 10 years working in a hospital...I remember one little 7 year old boy dying of brain cancer. When I went in to care for him I would talk with him, tell him what the weather was outside and that his mother would soon be in to rock him. He was totally unresponsive except for a smile. I tested him with talking and he was definitely responding to my voice. I mentioned this to his mother when she came in and she said he always smiled at her when she rocked him or talked with him...

His type of brain cancer, he was going to die, no doubt bout it but he deserved to be treated with love and talked to and rocked by his mother until he took his last breath. He also deserved nutrition and fluids to keep him comfortable. His death was peaceful and its the way we should treat all those dying unless as adults they sign forms that say otherwise.

For me, I have signed such a document, and talked with my kids about their Power of Attorney for health care. All adults should do this and not have the family make the decision..and do it in writting. No one likes to think about it, but it will happen to everyone living today. If someone wants extraordinary means its their decision. If they don't again its their choice..Its no doctors job to determine what quality of life is except for his own life..