Re: Flu pandemic plan would deny intense care to very sick, aged
Re: Flu pandemic plan would deny intense care to very sick, aged
No one wants to think of a loved one not receiving all possible medical treatment possible. Worse yet, no matter how it is phrased, we always either admittedly or even unconsciously place ourselves as a venerable patient who is in need of that sort care. I know that I make it very personal and up in my face when considering the facts initially, it is a part of us as humans.
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The way the article was presented, that if a person is sick and there is no possible way of survival, that support services will not be available. Yet the article did not say that there would be no more help. Instead of life sustaining measures there will be if at all possible as much compassionate assistance and support possible for the person while they are alive. This will mean so much more than extensive heroic measures that will only cause more pain and suffering and prolong not the living but the agonizing DYING process. Many have only seen what it looks like on fictional TV to have CPR done. It never shows the broken ribs, torn muscles in the chest cavity, the burn marks that can occur from a defibulator, the raw throat from the incubation of a tube down the throat, the hurricane force of air from a C-Pack ventilator, all this on top of the severe agony of the potential pandemic disease. Even if the person does survive, their quality of life may be severely restricted and hampered with untold multiple complications and compromised systems. It is not a joyful and happy ever after ending - far from it.
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As a thanatologist I have often seen the medical treatments that have been performed to try to save a life and it is not a jolly situation that the patient experiences during the medical crisis or during recovery if that that does happen. Aggressive medical treatment does not guarantee recovery or even a more comfortable death. Medical science has come a long way to help sustain life but at what cost to the person who is suffering. There needs to be compassionate and loving care provided to all persons with dignity for all concerned.
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It is not an easy decision to make to say no more treatment that will prolong life. I seriously doubt after having been involved in numerous situations both personally and professionally that few what to ?play God? far from it. Yet for many involving a sick person in aggressive advanced medical treatments is also considered playing God as well.
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In a pandemic situation, that we will face at some given point, will call for prudent and compassionate consideration. If I am so sick that there is little to no chance that I will recover than I will want to have all the compassionate not aggressive medical treatment that I can receive, even if in my dying that could only mean that someone will be willing to hold my hand and journey with me those few hours, days or even moments as I cross over from this living experience to that which will occur afterwards. Most people who are critically and terminally dying do not want to have extraordinary painful, invasive actions taken, instead they want a peaceful presence of a caring person to be with them.
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The scariest part of death event for many is not the death event itself, but the dying process. We, who are not currently dying, fear most the thought of the loved one not being with us any more in the manner we are accustomed to. It is self interest motivation. Once we can focus on the well being of the person who is actively dying, then the issue needs to be ?what is the kindest acts of care we can provide this person?. Major invasive, prolonged and most likely non-effective aggressive treatments are not what will provide the most caring and loving support to a person who is dying.
Please understand I am NOT suggesting that no treatment be offered to a dying person, instead I advocate that the most aggressive INTENSIVE compassionate palliative treatment be provided.
The title of this article first mentioned is an emotional and attention grabber. It does not help to have high intensity verbage when considering the best and msot compassionate care for a ternimal person.
TM
