I have actually had to make that decision---or remake it in that case.
I was in the hospital for double phenomena and I had a living will on file in that hospital. The doctor treating me asked me about the DNR stipulation---did I still want that. To which I replied, emphatically, that I did. He said, "let's talk about that". He went on to say that it was very possible that I could get to a point that I would need a respirator for a short period to get me over "a hump" but under the terms of my living will he would not have that option. That brought me up short---all of a sudden it took on not the air of a philosophical belief but one of immediate reality. We agreed, with my wife present, that he could exercise that option for 3 days---if I was not improving by then pull the plug. Luckily it turned out to be an unnecessary discussion.
As I write this, I am thinking of having been given the last rights twice---I had no such quandary when asked if I wanted them
Added in edit: As I recall that negotiation, my wife was arguing for 12 hours, not three days
Last edited by Dave Grubb; 05-31-2023 at 09:44 AM.
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