End-of-Life issues affect all Missourians, including this middle-aged woman.
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Designated to Decide: How to Help a Loved One Finish Well
In the video, “When Surrogates Override the DNR,” a woman who was appointed to be her mother’s healthcare agent explains why she directed emergency room doctors to intubate her mother against her mother’s wishes.

It is a compelling video especially in light of the upcoming April 16th National Healthcare Decisions Day and growing discussion about aggressive healthcare at the end of life. The video is a sad story of loss that teaches important lessons about choosing and agreeing to be chosen as a healthcare agent.

In the video, a loving daughter agrees to be her mother’s healthcare agent. A thoughtful mother completes a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) and DNI (Do Not Intubate) forms. The mother even goes so far as to wear a bracelet to alert paramedics not to resort to heroic measures to save her life. The mother also has a form on her refrigerator door alerting others of her wishes. Then the day comes which is most feared – her loved ones get a call from an emergency room. Upon arrival, they discover their beloved mother is gravely ill. Emergency room personnel tell them only support through intubation will continue her life.

See full story.

See video link on GeriPal website.
End-of-Life issues affect all Missourians including this young couple.
End-of-Life Facts
Button: Missouri End of Life Coalition The POLST Paradigm is designed to ensure that seriously ill patients can choose the treatments they want and that their wishes are honored by medical providers. See more.
Button: Missouri End of Life Coalition How to implement the new Out-of-Hospital Do Not Resuscitate Order Rule-19 CSR 30.40.600. Click here.
Button: Missouri End of Life Coalition Although more than 70 percent of Americans say they wish to die at home, only 25 percent do. Source
Button: Missouri End of Life Coalition Only 22 percent of eligible Missourians used their Medicare hospice benefit in 2002. Source
Button: Missouri End of Life Coalition The median length of stay in hospice has dropped from 29 days in 1995 to 22 days in 2003. Source
Button: Missouri End of Life Coalition It is estimated that only 15 to 25 percent of adults have completed an advance directive. Source
Button: Missouri End of Life Coalition 75 percent of Americans believe the issue of whether a family can remove a patient from life support is not for government at any level to decide. Source
Missouri End of Life Coalition, 2420 Hyde Park, Jefferson City, MO 65109
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