Do you have Health Care Power of Attorney?

[1FinickyOne]

Who will make decisions for you if you cannot? 

 

This is much more difficult than imagined as there are too many possibilities to consider.

 

My mother had a directive not to insert a feeding tube. When she eventually needed it, my brother was dissuaded by the doctor who said she might just need it for a couple of weeks and then could live normally without it. The Dr. was correct and my brother went along with it, against her wishes. It did enable her to live an extra 5 years, which was replete with increasing dementia and not a lot of joy or awareness... 

 

My Thai wife cannot put a dog to sleep. I do not want pain or to live on as a burden - I would rather my money be enjoyed by my family than to be wasted on prolonging a state of dementia. 

 

Have any of you dealt with this complex issue? 

[IvorBiggun2]

Do you do  sports questions? I'm good at those.

[save the frogs]

not sure how it works, but can the hospital directly contact the company that drafted the Living Will for instructions? perhaps give this company a call to explain your situation. 

 

https://bewell.co.th/living-wills-q-a/

2. How will a hospital know that an unconscious patient has a Living Will?

Be Well Members are recommended to carry the Be Well membership card with them at all times. On the card we will add a special sticker stating that the patient has a Living Will and that the hospital should contact Be Well for details.

[1FinickyOne]

1 hour ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

Do you do  sports questions? I'm good at those.

sure, who was the greatest baseball player of all time, even though he missed a couple of years in the military very early in his career, which might have been a couple of prime years? 

[1FinickyOne]

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

https://bewell.co.th/living-wills-q-a/

That looks like a very good solution for people w/o family - - or a trusted representative. I had never heard of them. Personally I have a lawyer who I trust to make those decisions. 

 

Is there anything else that deals with death with dignity - - I think there is something in the USA  that grew out of the Hemlock Society...