| "Do you want to be resuscitated?" Hesitantly my | | | | brain injury. On that note, he gave orders to |
| husband Steve slurred out a "no". He was in a | | | | remove the DNR and put Steve on a full |
| state of confusion, so I thought that was an odd | | | | resuscitate code, and I watched while they |
| question for the emergency room neurologist to | | | | switched out his wristband. |
| ask him, especially since he failed to explain to | | | | How invaluable that paperwork was! Who would |
| Steve exactly what it meant. But there was so | | | | have guessed that I would be using the POA so |
| much going on, I didn't give it another thought. | | | | soon. Only three months before, we helped |
| We all take for granted that when we go to a | | | | Steve's parents draw up their Advanced |
| hospital, the doctors, nurses and staff are trying | | | | Directives. Both of them were in ill health and we |
| to save our life. This was the assumption I was | | | | knew their documents needed updating. They |
| under the night of my husband's stroke in | | | | were reluctant to hire an attorney because of the |
| February 2008. Little did I know that the | | | | cost involved, so I found the proper documents |
| neurologist placed him under a DNR (Do Not | | | | and drew them up for them according to their |
| Resuscitate) code. It was coded into his | | | | wishes. Since I had all the documents in my |
| identification wristband, so every time it was | | | | computer, I decided to update our paperwork as |
| scanned to administer medication, the DNR was | | | | well. Everything was notarized and distributed to |
| noted. | | | | the alternate health care agents we designated. |
| Of course, I wasn't aware of this until three days | | | | There is a place on the POA for Health Care |
| later when the swelling in Steve's brain threatened | | | | where you can designate a Statement of Desires, |
| to trigger a series of other strokes, which would | | | | Special Provisions or Limitations, and the issue of |
| most likely prove fatal. I overheard the neurologist | | | | DNR. Some people do not want to have their life |
| say to another doctor out in the hallway that if | | | | extended by artificial methods for various |
| that happened, Steve was under a DNR so don't | | | | reasons, so the time to make that decision is |
| make any efforts to resuscitate him. | | | | before you are hospitalized when you are lucid |
| When I heard that, I recalled that incident in the | | | | and "of a sound mind". Steve and I discussed all |
| ER. This troubled and angered me at the same | | | | of these end-of-life questions, so knowing what |
| time. When I went home that night, I dug out our | | | | his wishes were prior to the stroke gave me the |
| critical papers. And I prayed that Steve would be | | | | confidence to confront the doctor and make bold |
| okay, because I knew no measures would be | | | | decisions. |
| taken to save his life. They would just let him die. | | | | Why is it that most people procrastinate when it |
| We had recently drawn up a new Will, Durable | | | | comes to drawing up a Will or Durable Power of |
| Power of Attorney for Health Care, and Durable | | | | Attorney for Health Care? |
| Power of Attorney for financial decisions (POA). I | | | | I think one reason is the cost. Another reason is |
| knew exactly what his wishes were. | | | | that they just don't want to think about dying. |
| The next morning I told the doctor that I was | | | | If cost is an issue for you, there are some very |
| Steve's health care agent and had the Power of | | | | good computer software programs that can help |
| Attorney for Health Care, and I wanted the DNR | | | | you draw up Advanced Directives, so why put it |
| removed. He argued with me for a minute or two | | | | off any longer? Now is the time to put those |
| telling me that Steve's decision overrode mine. | | | | critical papers in order. If a life-threatening event |
| Then I told him that I had all the paperwork with | | | | happens to you or a loved one, it may be too |
| me that indicated what Steve's wishes were, | | | | late to do so. Preparing ahead is wise and will give |
| decisions he made when he was thinking clearly. | | | | you peace of mind. Life is uncertain. Do you really |
| Thus it invalidated the decision he made in the | | | | want someone else making those decisions for |
| emergency room when he was confused with a | | | | you? |