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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