Over the years the health care community has developed ways to extend life through surgical procedures, medications and machines. Sometimes the use of the newer technology will result in saving a life and allowing the patient to return to normal activities or an ability to care for themselves with a minimum of assistance. At other times the patient is kept alive without what most of us would call a good quality of life.
Here in the US there is an expectation that the patient will be an active part in the decisions concerning health care. Choosing the high tech, newest procedure on the market or a lower tech and only proven methods is a matter of personal style. We need to work with our health care provider so that he/she knows what care will fit us best.
When we find that we are involved in making end of life health care decisions for ourselves or our aging family members, we will make better decisions if we are working from a working understanding of the choices. A question to be asked as a part of the process is “Will this (procedure, surgery, medication) only prolong my or my family member’s dying?’ Also, it is appropriate to ask what is to be gained by a particular course of treatment. Never be afraid to ask questions until you understand the proposed treatment and the expected outcome.
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