Is it appropriate to bring up end-of-life treatment decisions and burial issues at the end stage?
It may seem awkward to discuss burial preferences, but your parent may be grateful to discuss them now, since the doctor has presumably informed him or her that the end stage has been reached. If your parent hasn’t already written a living will clarifying advance directives as to what kind of care he does and does not want near the end — including such things as resuscitation and intubation preferences — this is the time to do it. Your parent’s wishes in these matters should be shared with both the physician and the family. Ideally your parent will empower someone to make health care decisions if he or she is no longer able to do so, and will give someone trustworthy durable power of attorney over financial affairs.
Related Questions
- Can I give my patient advocate the authority to make decisions to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatment, including food and water administered through tubes?
- Can I give my patient advocate the right to make decisions to withhold or withdraw life sustaining treatment?
- Is compounding always an appropriate treatment option?
