[GCFL-discuss] discussion topic

[Discussion of the Good, Clean Funnies List]

Siarlys
The paragraphs below from your comment express the conundrum
beautifully.
But difficult as it is to put yourself at the mercy of the
decision-making of others, it is important to do so, especially at our
age.  One never knows when he might become incapable of decision-making,
or incapable of expressing his decisions.  Worse than having others
decide for one when one can't, is having doctors, hospital
administrators and insurance companies make these decisions.

A "living Will" gives you the chance to designate a decision-maker whom
you trust to follow the guidelines that you discussed with said
designee, or, even better, that you summarize in the Will itself.

One trap to avoid is the blanket statement, such as DNR (do not
resuscitate).  I am told (I could not verify) that former President
Nixon died of a DNR request.  DNR in the context of various serious or
terminal illness might make sense; in his case whatever caused his
cardiac arrest was temporary (so I was told) and he had a good chance of
full recovery.  But with the DNR on file, they didn't bother.

greenBubble

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Subject: Re: [GCFL-discuss] discussion topic


Since there is only one omniscient, ominpresent, omnipotent being, who
does not to our knowledge write on hospital charts or scribble
prescriptions, ANY standards for making decisions are necessarily going
to be complex and imperfect. I worry most that standards will be
different for "how much" treatment to give patients who don't have much
money, compared to those who can pay for any treatment they desire.

I would never trust anyone else to make the decision what would be
either useful or enjoyable
for me.



Siarlys
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