Ten years ago, Dr. H cared for an elderly man dying of heart failure in the emergency department. He refused life support and received comfort care. Still, the nurse and his wife took turns yelling, "Breathe . . . breathe . . . breathe!" The disrespect shown to this gentleman taking his last breath prompted me to "say
something" through blog posts, speaking presentations, and Dr. H's clipboard. My tips for advance care planning were intended to prepare people to think first before reacting fearfully to death.
In a world where common sense and political decency seem to be in short supply, reasonable end-of-life conversations are rarely being held at round tables or dinner tables. It's likely that some things will never change. In trying to beat the odds of a massive heart attack, one 99-year-old man stated, "What do I have to lose?"
That's human nature speaking. Common sense would suggest that he'll experience a fate worse than death.
The purpose of building a strong foundation for advance care planning is to think first before reacting. The goal of having a strong foundation is to be willing, able and ready to seize the hour of death when the time comes. While human nature often works against forces of nature, common sense exists in harmony with Mother Nature.
Dr. H's legacy of advance care planning has spoken to the heart of an individual's willingness, ability and readiness to accept fate
and rest in peace in the following ways:
