Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Heroic Measures

The new year had barely begun when there was a death in our family.  He was 63, weighed 360 pounds, on oxygen 24/7, could walk only a few steps.  During the night he fell in the bathroom.

The ambulance and paramedics arrived.  Seeing the gravity of the situation they inquired if his wife wanted them to use heroic measures.  They could give her little hope.  She wanted them to do everything possible to save her husband's life.

He was care-flighted to a hospital with a trauma center.  After three days all machines were disconnected and he was gone.

I've thought a lot about this situation.  She said he had signed a "Do Not Resuscitate" order but later rescinded it because he said he wasn't ready to die.  She agreed with his decision.

It's hard not to appear harsh and cold hearted about this but what on earth went wrong to get to this point.  Who failed?

No wonder healthcare cost in America is out of control.  Who paid for all this?

We cannot afford to be a medically illiterate society. Regardless of Sarah Palin's talk about death panels, there needs to be education about end of life issues.

14 comments:

  1. It would take me more than a paramedic telling me that there was little hope before I wouldn't want measures taken for my husband. I would require certain tests done at the hospital, first.

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    1. Perhaps I should have added more detail to this post. This man had a terminal diagnosis, he was not going to recover. He was morbidly obese, suffered from COPD, and pulmonary hypertension. He had made his situation worse by overeating, smoking, and not exercising. There are times when it is appropriate to use heroic measures. This case just happened not to be one of those times. When he collapsed in the bathroom it was over, his heart could no longer take the strain.

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    2. In that case, I am wondering why he changed his directive? If he had been dieting and doing what he could to help himself, I could see it, but not if he wasn't trying to change. I, myself, have COPD, haven't had a cigarette in 16 years, but can barely walk w/out huffing and puffing. I wear a size 12-14, yet am considered obese by my doctor's charts. There is a long list of other physical problems. My directive states that if I can't be brought back to the same crappy state I am in now - to let me go, but I would prefer some tests first. Though not much else works, I still have my mind and usually I like it here on the planet.

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    3. As an added note: I have pulmonary hypertension, arrhythmia, and have been on O2 24/7 for almost ten years, but I wouldn't want to have that counted against me just yet. The human body can handle quite a bit of abuse.

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  2. 360 pounds? Wow! This is so very sad. It often happens that a spouse would not want to see their loved one go. My son was a firefighter and mentioned that too many Americans were getting obese. He injured his back trying to help carry a man out of the bathroom on one call.

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    1. The odd thing about this is Bob's twin brother died a few months before his brother-in-law with almost exactly the same problems. Bob's twin weighed 340 but everything else was the same. Bob's twin was home alone when he collapsed but was found within about 15 minutes. He lived in Houston and was quickly transported to a major hospital. They worked on him a while but soon declared him dead. The brother-in-law lived in a rural area of Texas and was care flighted to a hospital with a trauma center. They really did extreme measures on him but it was to no avail.

      Yes, obesity is killing Americans. It takes at least four people to move a person weighing 340-60 pounds. Sometimes it's difficult to find care centers that will accept a patient weighing that much. Food seems to be their only pleasure in life once they become this disabled.

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  3. This is such a tricky problem. Sometimes I think I should have
    D N R tattooed on my chest. So far I haven't even filled out a living will. It is a hard commitment to make since it is so final.

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    1. It is a problem that deserves serious consideration. At our house we have DNR, living will, etc filed with our hospital, all our doctors offices, our children know our wishes, and I have at times carried copies of those documents in my purse. Be prepared is my motto.

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  4. We do have living wills, but in emergency situations those wishes are not always followed. I think is is easier for the one dying to let go than for the one left behind.

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    1. I agree, it is much easier on the person dying.

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  5. That description of 360 pounds and on oxygen is enough to tell one that this guy was living a death sentence. How the heck did he get in such bad shape at such a young age??? I would guess it was bad eating and little exercise. And no, we shouldn't have to pay for this bad living.

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    1. Now that we're focused on healthcare debate I'm speaking out. I don't know how to correct the problem but I'm keeping it front and center in hopes someone smarter than me has an answer. I do not think people who knowingly abuse their bodies have the right to expect free healthcare, either by insurance or welfare. It really adds to the Cost of healthcare in America.

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  6. You are right. We need to think about it when we are well and make a decision. When it gets near the end I'm sure we all want to be around a little longer but often the quality of life we clink to is limited. My grandmother who I loved dearly had pancreatic cancer. She lasted three times longer than they thought she would. The whole time she kept telling me she was going to get well and get out of there. I think her determination and strong heart kept her going but she hated every minute of her nursing home stay so no, it wasn't what she wanted.

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    1. My mother died of cancer and also hung to life as long as possible but never at anytime did any of us entertain the thought of using heroic measures.

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