Yes,I completely agree. I hope to be excused on this thread for a bit of a ramble. It was only yesterday that I glanced at the local paper up in Ontario, Canada. I just sloughed off a column titled.
Make end-of-life decisions while you still can
I take the liberty of quoting a paragraph. "But unconscious patients, or those with Alzheimer's or dementia, can present difficult issues for families and health care providers with regard to consent to medical treatment". Much detail is provided about the ramifications of complicated legal actions and so on. This of course, must be of great stress to all concerned. Not to speak of the legal costs. A specific case was also written about in depth. (Alan Shanoff. The Sault Star (Sault Ste Marie).
Ok. Your post had me hike out the section from the recycle box. I have read it over as it deserves to be read. I am 82 years old and my wife is 76 years. We both seem to be "with it" except for some memory lapses. I admire your compassion and careful thought. I understand also anyone that will rebut your decision.
I looked across at my wife and informed her of what we must do. We HAVE to talk, I said. Thanks to what you have posted.
Please have the talk with your wife.
The toughest part of the discussions my husband and I had was figuring out the DNR issue, in case either of us had a heart attack.
We did our homework. We researched how hard CPR had to be done to restore heart rhythm, and we were shocked to discover that to be done effectively, our ribs would probably be broken, and that the resuscitation statistics in the elderly weren’t very promising.
In younger people, it is different, of course.
He decided against it, considering how his Parkinson’s would complicate a recovery. Even though I am in better health than my husband, I have decided to make my end-of-life wishes very clear, so our children will not end up arguing about these matters.
I am very afraid of one or another of the children trying to keep me alive at all costs. I pray to go quickly, but only God knows.