You have decided to follow your physician’s advice and complete your Health Care Directive thus providing a clear understanding of your wishes as they relate to life sustaining measures. You understand the significance of having a Health Care Directive, but as you research the process you are confronted with a lack of understanding regarding what life sustaining measures encompass.
You are confronted with myriad medical jargon. What are life sustaining measures?
Life sustaining measures (also commonly referred to as life support) can be defined as, “Any medical treatment in which the primary goal is to prolong life rather than treat the underlying condition.” In such cases an individual’s own body is not capable of sustaining proper functioning on its own without medical intervention. Examples of life sustaining measures include artificial nutrition and hydration, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and mechanical ventilation. Depending on the circumstances, dialysis treatments may also be considered life sustaining.
Artificial nutrition and hydration are utilized when an individual is not receiving the nutrients necessary for health and well being. Artificial nutrition (tube feeding) requires a tube to be placed into the stomach or the upper intestine. Hydration (fluid replacement) involves tube placement intravenously (IV) via a needle.
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is used when an individual’s heart beat and/or breathing has stopped. CPR includes treatments such as mouth-to mouth resuscitation, chest compressions, electric shock and/or drugs to restart the heart. CPR can be life saving; however, there is a risk of broken or cracked ribs, punctured lungs and death.
Mechanical ventilation supports a person’s breathing when they can no longer breathe on their own. In this situation, a machine called a ventilator forces air into the lungs via tubing in the mouth or nose.
Dialysis is the artificial process by which waste products and excess water are removed from the blood. It is used when the kidneys are no longer able to do this adequately.
These examples of life sustaining treatments are just a few of the more common measures taken to continue life when one or more body systems are not working properly. Deciding what, if any, treatments are right for you should depend on several factors:
Does the treatment relieve suffering, restore functioning, or enhance the quality of life? If so, these would be some of the benefits of treatment.
Conversely, a treatment may be considered problematic if it is painful, prolongs the dying process or negatively affects the quality of life. Other questions to ask yourself might be: What are my values as they relate to life prolonging measures? Who will carry out my wishes should I become incapacitated? If I start treatment and it does not improve my status will I want to continue that treatment? If so, when? (It should be noted that it is ethically and legally acceptable to discontinue a treatment that is no longer a benefit. It is the disease, not the withdrawal of treatment that causes death.)
How you choose to complete your Health Care Directive and what measures you choose to take are up to you. Talk to your doctor and don’t be afraid to ask questions if you find the terminology confusing or you simply don’t understand.
Ultimately understanding your Health Care Directive and the medical terminology associated with it will enable you to communicate your wishes to those providing your health care and increase the likelihood that your wishes will be honored.
For more information on Health Care Directives, contact Pankratz & Hodge, P.A. We can prepare a Health Care Directive for you and answer any questions you might have.
This information is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific questions you should consult a qualified attorney.
Tagged with: declaration • health care directive • healthcare power of attorney • life sustaining measures • Living Will