What are some of the medical terms used when talking about serious illness?
• Advance Directives: Advance directives are written instructions stating how you wish your medical decisions be made if you become unable to make decisions for yourself. Some advance directives are sometimes called living wills. Most states allow patients to appoint a person who can make health care decisions on their behalf when patients cannot speak for themselves. • Antibiotics: Antibiotics treat some infections (such as pneumonia) that can develop when a person is seriously ill. Antibiotics may also treat symptoms (such as with a bladder infection.) • Artificial nutrition: When a person can no longer eat or drink by mouth, liquid food can be given to them by tube. • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): Attempts to restart breathing and the heartbeat of a person who has no heartbeat or has stopped breathing. Typically involves “mouth-to-mouth” and forceful pressure on the chest to restart the heart. May also involve electric shock (defibrillation) or a plastic tube down the throat
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