DECISIONS:
It was something you would never ever want to go through again. Your father had a severe stroke. He lay in a hospital bed for six weeks, unable to communicate. And then the doctors told you he was developing life-threatening pneumonia. 

 They took you into a small room and asked what you wanted done. You could request antibiotics or allow nature to run its course. If your father recovered from the pneumonia he would need institutionalised care for the rest of his days.
This story is enacted daily throughout the world -- family members are unable to make decisions without feeling profound remorse, and the medical profession struggles between the ability to save life, and a need to reduce suffering. 
 Living Wills Registry (Canada) assists people in directing their own medical treatment in the event of incapacitating illnesses or accidents.
      Around the world, common-law precedents are becoming evident..
       
        In Quebec, Canada, the Nancy B. case brought a great deal of public attention to the issue. She was a young lady, in her early twenties. She was stricken by a paralysing disorder called Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

        Usually this is a limited disease, and clears up spontaneously;  Nancy was not so fortunate; for months she was mainained on a respirator as she could not breathe for herself.

        Eventually she came to the conclusion that she could not go on.

        She asked her doctors to take her off the respirator.

        You can imagine the heart-ache this engendered for everyone around. As a result, a judge was called to her bedside to hear her submissions. In the end he granted her her wish, and the respirator was turned off.

        She died quietly under mild sedation.

      This paved the way for all patients in Canada, and now everyone has the right to make their own decisions on health care matters.
        Legislation has been enacted recognizing that we want more control over decisions involving our own care.

        This is done by making out a living will before incapacity occurs .

        What the living will is designed to do is provide explicit direction in near-death situations - specifying whether the patient wants all possible medical intervention or certain limits on treatment..

      REMEMBER, A LIVING WILL DEALS WITH HEALTHISSUES.
      This contrasts with an estate will that deals with financial matters.

       

       


       

      Subscribers are encouraged to discuss their living wills with their families, clergy, doctors, and lawyers. As well, each subscriber may designate a "proxy" who can make decisions to ensure that the person's wishes are observed. The Registry provides all necessary documents.

      The living will should not direct doctors to engage in anything illegal ( euthanasia or assisted suicide are still illegal in Canada).

      A living will spares family members the anguish of having to make difficult decisions, and it helps them to discuss situations in advance and come to terms with the loved one's wishes.

      Doctors themselves are concerned about these ethical issues and living wills provide needed direction. Living wills can also assist the medical profession struggling between the ability to save life, and the need to reduce suffering.

      No one really likes dealing with their own mortality, but a living will allows control over medical treatment in near-death situations, and it removes the stress and guilt associated with these decisions from family members and friends.
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