End Of Life Case Study

It is even worse when one is forced to make painful decisions about ending the support system provided by the health care facility due to prolonged stay in a coma. Advanced directive plays a major role in easing the burden off from the loved ones, when faced with the terrible consequences. Medlineplus (2016), states that the advance directives are legal documents that allow an individual to make decisions about the end-of-life care ahead of time. Examples of Advanced directive are: durable power of attorney, designating a health care proxy, and living will, legally documented for treatment option if one is dying or permanently unconscious.. It also important to have the legal document to the right place, when a decision needed to be made. Advances directive is controversial when it comes to religion, tradition regarding the dying close families, friends and also, physicians. Although the advance technology has positive aspects in extending life longer, at the same time leave us dependent on others, unable to make decisions and in great pain too (Advances directive,2016)

A person’s life can end at any age. They can depart quickly or slowly. End of life care, also known as palliative care, is the care of patients that are not only in their final hours or days but the patients with a terminal illness that has become incurable. End of life care takes into mind what the patient desires so it is recommended that they consider an advanced care plan also known as an advance directive and living will. These documents allow the patient to formulate decisions on the future of their care if, at any point, they cannot vocally express themselves.

Hospice exists in the hope and belief that, through proper care and the encouragement of a caring and sensitive team, patients and their families may be free to achieve some level of mental and spiritual preparation for death that is comfortable to them. The goal is to help

The topic of end-of-life care may seem daunting and uncomfortable, and yet most individuals do have unique desires and concerns regarding their provision for the future. Providing the opportunity for that communication, the advance directive and POLST forms allow an individual to explicitly state their wishes before the future. Developed to lessen the apprehensions concerning patients undergoing any extensive and unwanted measures to preserve life at any cost, these medical directives lighten the decision-making burden for physicians and families alike and help comply with the patient’s utmost end-of-life wishes.

The beginning of life is celebrated. Books and resources are shared among friends and family in preparation for becoming a new parent. So, what happens as one approaches the end of life? Unfortunately, the same care and sharing rarely occurs in those circumstances and many face the prospect of dying unprepared. Though most people state they would prefer to die at home, this is often not where death occurs. Many Americans spend their last days attached to medical apparatus that keeps the body alive, but it does not allow for communication with family and often requires heavy sedation. Additionally, this level of treatment comes at a high price. As a society, we must become as comfortable in addressing the end of life process as we

An Advance directive is a living will, which allows one to document their wishes concerning medical treatments at the end of life. Even though it’s optional, but all health care facilities are required by law to ask patients if they have one, and offer them the appropriate information, and documents to sign if they want it. There are two basic kinds of advance directives, living wills, and

Death is something that most people do not like to think about, much less talk about. It is easy to see why the important decisions involving one’s own end of life decisions or the decisions of a loved one are conversations easily pushed to the back burner. Before it is too late, people should fill out an advance directive, including a living will and durable power of attorney, to decrease the burden and uncertainty that could be left to loved ones. People should also consider the type of care they would like to receive at the end of their life and what to do with their body once they have died. Having plans surrounding one’s death is beneficial to everyone involved, as it gives a clear plan on how to proceed.

Our end of life care is offered by a multi-discipline team that supports patients and manages illnesses. Throughout the process, our team provides the emotional, physical and spiritual support that patients need to feel comfortable. Our services include medical social services, supportive nursing care, bereavement support, volunteer support, medical equipment, pain management and respite care.

This paper concerns the ethical basis for advance directives, or “Living Wills”; the value of these advance directives to the patients, their families; and the authorities that these advance directives give the above mentioned interested parties.

When you are able, you should put thought into the physical process you will go through. All of us love you and want to make sure that when the time comes, we know and can follow your wishes regarding the care you wish to receive. Having your decisions thoroughly and clearly stated in an advance directive will make this possible. (Berger, 2014, p. 590). Your advance directive document may contain a living will, a signed consent for Do Not Resuscitate (DNR), and information identifying your healthcare proxy. Understanding these things now, will help you make clear choices. A living will clarifies what care, or lack of care, you wish to have (Berger, 2014, p. 590). This is helpful for reference if you are ever unconscious or in any way incapable

There are two types of advance directives: a Living Will and the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. A Living Will requires a witness or be notarized and consists of a directive that instruct the acting physicians to not utilize medical interventions in an instance that the patient is unable to make their immediate medical decision. The Living Will is the oldest form of advanced directives, requires a patient be terminally ill and it states that its interpretation is only to be assumed by the patient and their physician, there is never to be any family influence or interpretation of a Living Will. Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care is also witnessed or notarized and identifies an ‘agent’ to make health care decisions if the signer is unable to make their own decision. An agent is an individual that the patient chooses with great care, due to the amount of power/authority that is assumed to making such decisions. The Durable Power of Attorney does not require that a patient be terminally ill and is interpreted by the identified ‘agent’. There have also been known to be hybrid documents that combine elements of a Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care that acts as an Advanced Directive. (Advanced Directives.,

“The final moments of one’s life are difficult for everyone involved-the patient, loved ones, and even the healthcare provider” (Klein, 2005). If a patient’s final wishes regarding his/her care are undefined or not clear, then the situation could be worse or uncomfortable. During what should be a time of caring, mourning and supporting one another can quickly become overshadowed by ethical and legal battles. However, this can be prevented and avoided by the execution of advanced directives.

As people approach the end of their lives, they with their families and their caregivers, face many tasks and decisions. They may be psychological, spiritual, or medical in nature, but all end-of-life choices and medical decisions have complex psychological components, ramifications, and consequences that have a significant impact on the suffering patients and their caregivers.

The advance directive also allows individuals to designate an agent to make health related decisions. The decisions might include “Resuscitation, Mechanical ventilation, Tube feeding, Dialysis, Antibiotics or antiviral medications, Comfort care (palliative care), Organ and tissue donations, and body donation for a scientific study.” (Mayo Clinic Consumer Health, 2015). Thus, an advance directive plays an important legal role in the end of life issues.

Living Wills, sometimes called Advanced Directives, are legal documents accepted in all 50 states. They clearly define a person’s wish to decline life-support or medical treatment in certain circumstances, usually when death is imminent. Generally, a living will takes effect when a person becomes terminally ill, permanently unconscious or conscious with irreversible brain damage.