The Patient I Failed - Page 11

how could her daughter do that to her mother??!?!?! knowing what she wanted!!! that makes me sick! my parents would come back and haunt me forever!

The woman was dying but due to advances in medical intervention the process was reversed. A heart stops because the organ is no longer capable of function and the same goes with pulmonary function.We have advanced so much in medical technology that it is the medical ability to intervene that determines life or death. At 89 she has the right to have a DNR order written. The fact that pushing drugs , inserting tubes,or shocking the heart back to a rhythem can "prolong" viability and we can prolong the inevitable does not mean this person has a "life'. What it does is give the appearance of being alive and this is distinctly different than life.

Dear God that was hard to read, and witness. I think we have all been there. Thank you and God bless you.

The woman was dying but due to advances in medical intervention the process was reversed. A heart stops because the organ is no longer capable of function and the same goes with pulmonary function.We have advanced so much in medical technology that it is the medical ability to intervene that determines life or death. At 89 she has the right to have a DNR order written. The fact that pushing drugs , inserting tubes,or shocking the heart back to a rhythem can "prolong" viability and we can prolong the inevitable does not mean this person has a "life'. What it does is give the appearance of being alive and this is distinctly different than life.

beautifully written. If only families knew, and would understand.

A tragic but all too true story, it's is told every day, hundred's of times all over the country. I've lived it myself more than once. I couldn't have written it better myself. BRAVO!

Absolutely fantastically written. I do want to share one thing...HER FAMILY FAILED HER. I am only 32, but have a lot of health problems and have spent this entire week going over what I want/don't want to my 2 MPOAs. I will also show them this. Thank you!

Wow, what a story. Its amazing that nothing could have been done to allow her will to stand its grounds. Wow.

i was touched by your story...being a nurse, i think this is the hardest part of our job..thanks for sharing your story.

What a pathetic story .You did not fail your patient Her stuborn daugther who could not respect the last wish of an old woman did however i can understand your situation.This story goes to explain what most of us face when you have uncooperative patient relatives .