An account of why we should get rid of advanced directives

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/21/magazine/a-life-or-death-situation.html?pagewanted=all&_rgf=0

This report was published in the New York Times magazine.  It was about Margaret Pabst Battin an academic who has made a very comfortable living by propagandizing pro-choice until she was faced with it with her husband. The future is always unknown.

Maggie has been characterized by the pro-life movement as being a dangerous woman.

Because of Maggie's being acclaimed an expert witness, advance directives and DNRs should be made illegal. No one can foresee the future.Thank you Maggie for making your expert witnessing a lie.

Up to two years ago I did not know what an advanced directive was nor did I understand the DNR.  I though a DNR was only used in advanced causes of terminal illness.  When/why did all this change..  I was of the belief that an advance directive was a directive to your family as to funeral arrangements.  I did not know that it is a directive on how you want to die.  Forgive me for thinking otherwise.

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Confidentiality has gone too far...

I recently phoned Vancouver General Hospital for information on a patient who I was visiting nearly everyday and to whom I was a substitution decision maker..  I was told that she was discharged from ICU.  I asked where to.  I was told such information was confidential.  I asked who made the information confidential, did the patient.  Since this patient could not speak or write because of her illness how could she have asked for such information to be confidential. The hospital did not ask if she wanted this privacy. It just takes it upon itself to impose this restriction.

I received a telephone call saying that Carolanne was at George Pearson Centre.  I contracted the social worker there and he would not confirm if she was there or not as such information was confidential.

Today being Sunday I was told that Carolanne was back at VGH.  I phoned VGH and was told she was now in tower 12C.  I went and saw her and although she was in bad shape she did recognize me.. Apparently within the few short days she was at GPC she gained an infection and she was rushed back to emergency and then to 12C.

Trach patients

I was just told that trach patients are the second most expensive patients for health care cost.  The most expensive are those who have transplants.  Interesting comment.