Few patients anticipate the need for critical care. Some people call 911 too late. Such was the case for Selena in the Netflix documentary "Extremis." She was having chest pain and struggling to breathe, but she told her daughter not to call EMS.
Selena stopped breathing on the way to the hospital. EMS responded and began CPR. A breathing tube was inserted. Selena suffered brain damage and was admitted to the ICU at Highland Hospital in Oakland, California.
Selena was in a vegetative state, lying in a bed and hooked up to machines. Her daughter and brothers were at her bedside - hoping and praying for her
recovery. Dr. Zitter was the ICU physician in charge of her care. Selena did not have an advance directive. It was now up to the family members to decide Selena’s fate. An advance directive could have been Selena’s "get out of jail free" card.