Too often, we assume that there will be lots of time to make decisions, have discussions and make plans. It doesn’t always work that way – who wants to leave their family with the burden of having to guess? Give your loved ones a gift – make a plan! It was an awkward conversation – but I did it and I’m glad!
Now in my early 70ies I fear a lingering, diminished, indignant, hopeless end-of-life. I would like to partner with my physician regarding euthanasia if/when necessary but that is illegal. A welcome option would be euthanasia for a peaceful, humane death … not institutionalized with no hope for improvement while consuming enormous healthcare costs. In my opinion laws need to change.
Lisa Feldstein Law Office Professional Corporation As a lawyer with a focus on Family Health Law, I draft and give advice relating to powers of attorney for personal care (POA). I find that POAs are often under-utilized – people appoint a substitute decision-maker (the attorney) but fail to provide direction or any level of detail about their future care. I don’t think many people appreciate the utility of such documents.
I would encourage family doctors to raise the importance of advance care planning with all of their adult patients.
I get the idea from the article on Advance Directives that donating an organ is the best and only proper decision and not just an option.
I wonder if families feel pressured to choose the politically correct option and later wish that they had left the body intact.
I will admit that I do not regularly discuss organ donation with terminally ill patients. I usually discuss end of life issues with patients who are suffering from terminal illness. I think it important to raise the issue with people who are are retiring, and to respect their wishes for the timing of a more detailed discussion. I have engaged in advance care planning with my spouse and family, although not comprehensively.
I recently retired from medicine.
My spouse and I realized a few months ago that we should start making our wishes known clearly to each other and anyone involved in our care in case we are unable to do so ourselves.
Once we started researching this topic, we were shocked to see the extent of lack of preparation in the general public.
Recent articles in the media have raised awareness of this problem, and it appears to us that for Advance Care Planning “the moment has come”!
I am a retired palliative care physician and my spouse is a retired psychologist, so we have decided to use our experience, knowledge and expertise to help others in our community to prepare their Advance Care Plan, too. We have formed a group as a business model with our lawyer/friend, also experienced in this, and are about to embark on reaching out to the community and local doctors to raise the level of awareness of, and preparation for, situations in which people can not express their wishes themselves.
Too often, we assume that there will be lots of time to make decisions, have discussions and make plans. It doesn’t always work that way – who wants to leave their family with the burden of having to guess? Give your loved ones a gift – make a plan! It was an awkward conversation – but I did it and I’m glad!
AgreeNow in my early 70ies I fear a lingering, diminished, indignant, hopeless end-of-life. I would like to partner with my physician regarding euthanasia if/when necessary but that is illegal. A welcome option would be euthanasia for a peaceful, humane death … not institutionalized with no hope for improvement while consuming enormous healthcare costs. In my opinion laws need to change.
AgreeLisa Feldstein Law Office Professional Corporation
As a lawyer with a focus on Family Health Law, I draft and give advice relating to powers of attorney for personal care (POA). I find that POAs are often under-utilized – people appoint a substitute decision-maker (the attorney) but fail to provide direction or any level of detail about their future care. I don’t think many people appreciate the utility of such documents.
I would encourage family doctors to raise the importance of advance care planning with all of their adult patients.
AgreeI get the idea from the article on Advance Directives that donating an organ is the best and only proper decision and not just an option.
AgreeI wonder if families feel pressured to choose the politically correct option and later wish that they had left the body intact.
I will admit that I do not regularly discuss organ donation with terminally ill patients. I usually discuss end of life issues with patients who are suffering from terminal illness. I think it important to raise the issue with people who are are retiring, and to respect their wishes for the timing of a more detailed discussion. I have engaged in advance care planning with my spouse and family, although not comprehensively.
AgreeI recently retired from medicine.
AgreeMy spouse and I realized a few months ago that we should start making our wishes known clearly to each other and anyone involved in our care in case we are unable to do so ourselves.
Once we started researching this topic, we were shocked to see the extent of lack of preparation in the general public.
Recent articles in the media have raised awareness of this problem, and it appears to us that for Advance Care Planning “the moment has come”!
I am a retired palliative care physician and my spouse is a retired psychologist, so we have decided to use our experience, knowledge and expertise to help others in our community to prepare their Advance Care Plan, too. We have formed a group as a business model with our lawyer/friend, also experienced in this, and are about to embark on reaching out to the community and local doctors to raise the level of awareness of, and preparation for, situations in which people can not express their wishes themselves.
The articles are well written and give one a sense of trust toward our healthcare system.
Agree