Comments on: That Conversation You’ve Been Meaning to Have: How to Engage with Grace

By: Paul Levy

Paul Levy — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 03:35:36 +0000

Please see a special thank-you here: http://runningahospital.blogspot.com/2008/11/thanks-for-engaging-gracefully.html

By: CommonHealth

CommonHealth — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 03:52:08 +0000

Hi Jason – I hope the conversation with your dad goes well. My sister has ALS and it took us about 10 years to get through the conversation and all the decisions that it triggers. We knew, for example, for a long time that she did not want to live once she could no longer breathe on her own. But she never quite got around to signing a Do Not Resuscitate order. Once she qualified for hospice, they took care of the DNR in a very matter of fact, taking care of business kind of way. It would be nice if the end of life discussion was part of a routine medical conversation more often. Even now, we’re not sure that my sister’s desire to stay off a ventilator will be respected if the document isn’t on hand when or if she has an emergency. It is very hard to plan for all the possibilities.

Good Luck to you, Martha Bebinger

By: Jason Monroe

Jason Monroe — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:05:53 +0000

Thanks for sharing this. My dad is 74 and in an assisted living facility. We have not had this discussion and it needs to be done. I think I will wait to “review” this with him until next week. Let the excitement of Thanksgiving draw to a close and then pop it to him.

It’s amazing how few of us take the time to share things like this with the ones we love.

Jason
http://www.jrsmedical.com

By: David Harlow

David Harlow — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 17:22:24 +0000

Thanks to all who have worked to spread this message today.

As a health care lawyer, my occupational disability is seeking to ensure that conversations started through the one slide actually end up with properly documented health care directives that are entered into medical records and discussed in advance with physicians and caregivers.

See my Engage With Grace post, with links to health care proxy and living will forms for all states, at:

http://healthblawg.typepad.com/healthblawg/2008/11/engage-with-grace.html