Page 98 - South Mississippi Living - July, 2020

HEALTHY LIVING
WHO
WILL YOU
CHOOSE
To Make End-of-Life Decisions for You?
story by Johnny Williams, Director of Patient-Customer Satisfaction, Memorial Hospital
D ying is a di cult topic for all of us to discuss, but we will all have to face it one day. With advancements
in treatments and new technologies we can prolong life, but with these new treatments come more dilemmas for patients regarding quality of life. This makes it very important for all of us to consider how we would like our end-of-life to be, especially if we are somehow unable to make our own healthcare decisions. An Advance Directive should be considered. While you are physically able, now is the best time to put your request in a legal document which clearly outlines your wishes.
It is advisable to have your primary care provider involved
in your decision-making, as well as a trusted family member
or friend who will be agreeable to making decisions on your behalf. Such extraordinary measures as CPR, intubation, and arti cial hydration are steps that will be considered by doctors to prolong your life, if you face a medical crisis which leaves you incapacitated. You may decide to opt for a “Do Not Resuscitate” order or choose to be placed on palliative or hospice care. These options are often complicated for non-medical individuals, but your primary care provider will be able to explain each one to you and provide you with all options available. Individuals have many factors that in uence their views on death, which include spiritual, cultural and family in uences, and these are all important when making decisions. It is best
to confer with your clergy and your family before putting your decisions down on paper. Once you are ready, make an Advance Care Planning appointment with your provider in order to compile facts about your health condition which may assist in making crucial decisions regarding what is best for you and your family. Most insurances waive the copay for an Advance Care
Planning visit if done in conjunction with your Annual Wellness Visit. Your provider will have copies of the Advance Directive form, or you may download it from the Internet. It must be notarized and formally submitted to your provider. Taking the steps now will provide you, your family and friends peace of mind knowing that your end-of-life decisions will be honored. If you have any questions, please contact your provider.
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98 | July 2020
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