He is incompetent, and was declared such 10 months ago. He had the foresight to write up a living will ten years ago, specifying DNR (do not resuscitate) and that he does not want any extraordinary life extending measures taken to keep him alive.
We are talking Alzheimers disease here, folks; he no longer has responsibility for his own decisions. I make the determinations for his medical care.
My primary concern is that he not be frightened or stressed.
Alzheimers is terminal. He could live for years, or he could be dead in a couple months. What matters is that he not suffer or be uncomfortable, as that is a stressor that can worsen his Alzheimers and shorten his life.
This does not mean I want his life to end sooner than necessary. It is just that weighing the effects of medical care against the benefits of that care has to be determined.
He has had two types of surgeries, very minor; one type for double hernias and the second type two surgeries for cataracts requiring replacement of corneas. All surgeries were successful, one day only events, and without any noticeable stressful impact on his frame of mind.
I’m wondering if “extraordinary life-extending measures” is defined anywhere in his directive.
Family making decisions informed by competent, caring officials is what we all want. You are in the position of making difficult decisions and doing all the right things.
That is NOT what this thread is about. This is about someone removing that decision making ability from you by government fiat because end of life counseling does not mean the same thing under a health care system faced with rationing by government fiat than it does when you make decisions for your father based on the doctors consultations.