Mary Ann, thank you for this information. Elaine --- On Thu, 8/13/09, Mary Ann Ryan <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > From: Mary Ann Ryan <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: Re: question re living will > To: [log in to unmask] > Date: Thursday, August 13, 2009, 8:25 AM > This is an excellent question for > everyone. As a nurse, I have witnessed hundreds of > resuscitations - many of which were against the wishes of > the patient. So here are some of my suggestions regarding > the construction of a living will. Please remember to > be very clear about your wishes. > > Please consider answering the following questions: > > Do you wish to be resuscitated. If so, under which > conditions? If you are brain damaged so that you no > longer have any quality of life, do you wish to have cardiac > massage and be placed on a Vent (a device that is placed in > your trachea and allows for artificial ventilation). How > long should you remain on a vent (weeks, months, years) and > when should it be removed? > > Do you wish to have the instillation of a feeding > tube? If so, how long do you wish to receive > nourishment in this manner (days, weeks, months, > years)? When should it be removed? > > Do you wish to have IV therapy if you are incapable of > receiving hydration in any other manner? For how > long? When should such therapy be removed? > > At what age do you no longer wish to be resuscitated? > Please keep in mind that after the age of eighty, successful > resuscitation occurs in only about 1% of those brought back > to life and only 10% of that number ever leave the > hospital. > > A chemical code is different from a full Do Not Resuscitate > order. In a chemical code, blood pressure and cardiac > arrhythmias are corrected. So, please consider what > therapies should be in place in the event of a cardiac > crisis. > > Although the question was addressed to people with PD, the > reality is that when quality of life is adversely affected > by any disease, a decision must be made regarding whether to > resuscitate recognizing that quality of life will probably > be worse post resuscitation. My husband stated clearly, when > we constructed a living will, that he wanted everything > possible to be done. Within a year he had a coronary. > His decision to persevere, no matter what, made the decision > to permit bypass surgery so much easier for me and for > him. His doctors, at the time, we shocked that we > opted for a full code status and surgery. In the end, > he lived five years longer, being able to see his first > grandchild and participate to some degree in life. His > condition post surgery was severely impacted. > Nonetheless, we both were very happy that he was around for > those five years. > --------- > God bless > Mary Ann (CG Jamie 68/28 with PD, died 11/20/07) > > > > Do > www.bentwillowfarm.org > ----- Original Message ----- From: "kbachn" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 8:37 AM > Subject: question re living will > > > > does anyone have any suggestions/ideas wrt what to put > in a will if you have PD? > > > > Thanks all > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > 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 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn