Mary Ann - I'm so sorry you may be faced with decisions you won't want to
make, and yet, you know you will be.  I wish you the very best, and know
the decisions you make will help him make the transition peacefully.
Best to you.  Jo Ann

On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 13:16:53 -0500 Mary Ann Ryan <[log in to unmask]>
writes:
> It is important to tread lightly when discussing 'end of life'
> issues.  What
> the medical profession considers 'end of life'  protocol might not
> necessarily be our definition.
>
> My husband, who has had PD for the past 24 years, was *extremely*
> reluctant
> to establish a living will.  It was only when our attorney and I
> explained
> that he would have to incur brain damage that was so severe that he
> could no
> longer breath on his own  (and there was no hope that he ever would)
> that he
> agreed to the will.  I am his DPOA and know that he wants everything
> done in
> the event that he falls ill and requires hospitalization.  That
> means that I
> will *not* designate a 'no code' status for him (something that
> multiple
> doctors approached me about last year when he was hospitalized).
>
> What I want to make very clear in this post is that a living will is
> *not*
> the same as designating that someone is a 'not code' or DNR (Do not
> resuscitate).  In effect, many patients come in to the hospital with
> a
> living will and it has precious little effect on how they are
> treated.
> Medical professionals may still ask if the patient is a DNR even if
> they are
> alert and oriented and have come in to the hospital with a mild case
> of
> pneumonia.  One look at neurologically impaired patients often
> brings that
> query from the medical staff - they automatically assume that this
> debilitated individual may not desire to be kept alive in the event
> of a
> cardiac arrest.
>
> So.....the discussion about 'end of life issues' really boils down
> to.....do
> you want to be resuscitated or not?  That really is the question.
>
> Incidentally, since my husband and I are devote Catholics, we looked
> to our
> faith for guidance in this area (as a nurse I am especially
> committed to
> adhering to Church doctrine).  Catholic doctrine is very clear - it
> is not
> necessary to accept extraordinary means (IVs, tube feeding,
> antibiotics - to
> say nothing of surgery) in the event of terminal illness.
>
> Hope that this helps.
> -----------
> God bless
> Mary Ann Ryan (CG Jamie 24/64)
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to:
> mailto:[log in to unmask]
> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn
>

----------------------------------------------------------------------
To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask]
In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn