Thankfully, I have never personally had a family member in these situations that the question to sustain their life arose. The situation is much deeper than simply putting it as "pulling the plug." It costs the healthcare industry billions of dollars a year to sustain the life of one in a vegetable state. I was completely shocked at the daughter who was a doctor that wanted to keep her mother alive who suffered from dementia and was in a vegetable state. By being a doctor she should have greater knowledge in the cost of treatment and to know that she would not have a quality life or be able to contribute to society again. The resources used to keep one that is in vegetable state alive should be used on humans that are able to contribute to life again. I say this now, but if I am ever in the situation like many of the patients shown, I would not want any treatment, and to die in peace without pain. Being only 24, a living will has never crossed my mind, nor did I truthfully know that it existed. I will now take consideration into creating a living will to better assist family members in decisions that may arise in the future.
I had a hard time watching this video. My father passed away 10 months ago after an accident in February 2010. His health deteriorated over 9 1/2 months until he passed away in December. We watched him die. He had a living will and I know that when he passed away, he was ready. It is such a hard thing to deal with, but knowing what his wishes were did help to some extent. I do think that having a living will is a responsible thing to do. I also believe that if someone is beyond medical help the best thing to do is let nature take its course.
The video expressed view points and emotions of so many involved. The patients, love ones who have to make decisions, and the doctors. It is a very eye opening video to how death affects each person, from a patient giving up on hope, to a patient never giving up. The video illustrates the reality of not wanting to accept death. It was interesting to hear the doctor's personal point of view. The second guessing and questioning of choices and options they offer to patients and family. The cost of healthcare for those who are kept alive by machines is incredibly expensive. Although I will not speak for those actually in or experienced such dilemma, I feel that couple of patients in the video is not truly alive. All the attempts made to keep on living such as the tubes, medications, treatments, attachment of machines being continued for months, appear to be abusive. A living will can bring relief to the patient and all those involved. Where is the quality of life when there is no smile, laughter, and for some no cognition?
The video was very sad but it made me realize that sometimes it may be a better choice to opt out of treatment that could prolong suffering which will eventually lead to inevitable death.
At the end of the day, these treatments end up costing a lot of money that could be spent on people who do have a fighting chance. Typing that felt really cold but I guess it is just my honest opinion. When you bring in the personal factor into the mix, it becomes tough to look at it from that same perspective though.
The video was touching and it allowed a personal look into the face of death. I am not sure if you would call it a privilege or unfortunate, but I have stood by the bedside of many people as they have drawn their last breath. Each individual seemed to develop that same look as death was drawing closer. It is as if they are no longer seeing the people in the room, they are seeing something we cannot see.
This video was extremely hard for me to watch. I understand that death is inevitable but dealing with it still is not easy. Everyone involved is effected differently from the loved ones to the caregivers. I think that people should have a living will in order to help the people involved make the best decision for all effected.
As a heathcare provider I have seen my share of death and dying. I have been the one that 'pulls the tube' and never gets any easier to see the faces of the families, or to hear the wails of cries of knowing that the last breath has been taken by their loved one. However, there are the wonderful outcomes that one would have never expected...that's when it all becomes worth wild to be a caregiver!
I looked at my husband while I was watching it and said he needed to watch it too and then we needed to have a discussion about it. I do not want to have to go through what some of those patients had to endure at the end. I watched my mom suffer for 21 days in a coma and then 7 years later watched my dad waste away in hours. The hardest decision my sisters and I had to make was deciding to take my dad off the respirator. I hope to never have to make that decision again in my life.
That had to be one of the most depressing videos I have ever seen. I have dealt with death and I realize that we are all going to die one day, to see those people lying there and losing hope or having their will broken was gut-wrenching. Death is an issue that we should be open and up-front about but for some reason we like to skate around the issues until the end.
Thankfully, I have never personally had a family member in these situations that the question to sustain their life arose. The situation is much deeper than simply putting it as "pulling the plug." It costs the healthcare industry billions of dollars a year to sustain the life of one in a vegetable state. I was completely shocked at the daughter who was a doctor that wanted to keep her mother alive who suffered from dementia and was in a vegetable state. By being a doctor she should have greater knowledge in the cost of treatment and to know that she would not have a quality life or be able to contribute to society again. The resources used to keep one that is in vegetable state alive should be used on humans that are able to contribute to life again. I say this now, but if I am ever in the situation like many of the patients shown, I would not want any treatment, and to die in peace without pain. Being only 24, a living will has never crossed my mind, nor did I truthfully know that it existed. I will now take consideration into creating a living will to better assist family members in decisions that may arise in the future.
ReplyDeleteI had a hard time watching this video. My father passed away 10 months ago after an accident in February 2010. His health deteriorated over 9 1/2 months until he passed away in December. We watched him die. He had a living will and I know that when he passed away, he was ready. It is such a hard thing to deal with, but knowing what his wishes were did help to some extent. I do think that having a living will is a responsible thing to do. I also believe that if someone is beyond medical help the best thing to do is let nature take its course.
ReplyDeleteThe video expressed view points and emotions of so many involved. The patients, love ones who have to make decisions, and the doctors. It is a very eye opening video to how death affects each person, from a patient giving up on hope, to a patient never giving up. The video illustrates the reality of not wanting to accept death. It was interesting to hear the doctor's personal point of view. The second guessing and questioning of choices and options they offer to patients and family. The cost of healthcare for those who are kept alive by machines is incredibly expensive. Although I will not speak for those actually in or experienced such dilemma, I feel that couple of patients in the video is not truly alive. All the attempts made to keep on living such as the tubes, medications, treatments, attachment of machines being continued for months, appear to be abusive. A living will can bring relief to the patient and all those involved. Where is the quality of life when there is no smile, laughter, and for some no cognition?
ReplyDeleteThe video was very sad but it made me realize that sometimes it may be a better choice to opt out of treatment that could prolong suffering which will eventually lead to inevitable death.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day, these treatments end up costing a lot of money that could be spent on people who do have a fighting chance. Typing that felt really cold but I guess it is just my honest opinion. When you bring in the personal factor into the mix, it becomes tough to look at it from that same perspective though.
The video was touching and it allowed a personal look into the face of death. I am not sure if you would call it a privilege or unfortunate, but I have stood by the bedside of many people as they have drawn their last breath. Each individual seemed to develop that same look as death was drawing closer. It is as if they are no longer seeing the people in the room, they are seeing something we cannot see.
ReplyDeleteThis video was extremely hard for me to watch. I understand that death is inevitable but dealing with it still is not easy. Everyone involved is effected differently from the loved ones to the caregivers. I think that people should have a living will in order to help the people involved make the best decision for all effected.
ReplyDeleteAs a heathcare provider I have seen my share of death and dying. I have been the one that 'pulls the tube' and never gets any easier to see the faces of the families, or to hear the wails of cries of knowing that the last breath has been taken by their loved one. However, there are the wonderful outcomes that one would have never expected...that's when it all becomes worth wild to be a caregiver!
ReplyDeleteI looked at my husband while I was watching it and said he needed to watch it too and then we needed to have a discussion about it. I do not want to have to go through what some of those patients had to endure at the end. I watched my mom suffer for 21 days in a coma and then 7 years later watched my dad waste away in hours. The hardest decision my sisters and I had to make was deciding to take my dad off the respirator. I hope to never have to make that decision again in my life.
ReplyDeleteThat had to be one of the most depressing videos I have ever seen. I have dealt with death and I realize that we are all going to die one day, to see those people lying there and losing hope or having their will broken was gut-wrenching. Death is an issue that we should be open and up-front about but for some reason we like to skate around the issues until the end.
ReplyDelete