Dying is a very natural part of living, but the culture in which we live has conditioned us to view death as an enemy to be reckoned with, a problem to be solved, a battle to be fought. Medicine provides life sustaining treatments. Yet, death is ultimately inescapable. Sometimes, the very interventions that were developed to cure an illness can sometime inflict more pain and suffering than benefit.
When facing a serious, complex and perhaps life limiting illness, decisions may lie in our path that need consideration. We may face questions posed by our healthcare team such as:
These questions can be overwhelming and it’s helpful to consider how you may respond BEFORE a health crisis happens. There are many tools and resources available to help you think through what your responses may be.
U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs: Setting Health Care Goals, A Guide for People with Health Problems:
NIH - End of Life Helping with Comfort and Care PDF: