Just last week I heard another alarming, but typical story. My friend read A Death Prolonged and spoke with her mother about end-of-life options. Her mother wants to die naturally and does not want CPR. Therefore, she needs a Do Not Resuscitate order, written by a physician on the proper form.
She went to the physician’s office with her mother, but the doctor did not have the form. My friend printed the form from the Ohio Department of Health web site and returned to the physician’s office and had the form signed.
A week or so later, her mother left Ohio to stay with her son in Florida. Ohio laws and DNR forms don’t apply in Florida, so the process began again. At least, her mother knows her options. Most people don’t know their options and need information.
Read on to explore end-of-life issues and allow yourself and your loved ones to make informed and intelligent decisions. You can learn more through a recent PBS story by Betty Rollin that features Dr. Gordon.
Read about the kind of end-of-life disasters we’re trying to prevent, thanks to a post by Nancy Mily, RN.