DNRs

[Diamondlight]

I wonder if we could discuss Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders being on the medical notes of Christians.

I was thinking we could explore the pros and cons and the reasons for choosing to or not to have the order placed on your notes.

If we could post our thoughts whilst respecting each others decisions for our own personal choices, especially when they differ from our own that would be great!

Do you think it not dissimilar to raising the dead in scripture?

Being a doctor, do you think Luke might have attempted this manually to try and restart a heart?

When do you think it plausible that someone could request not to be resuscitated?

 

[Boanerges]

That is a tough topic.
I had a brother with a rare form of Leukemia that no one has ever survived. While he fought valiantly in the end the hell he went through did not seem worth the extra few weeks he had.
Just my view- if I can be resuscitated and helped them go for it- if I am going to be permanently hooked to a machine and/or no chance of recovery I would much rather be in Jesus arms.

 

[Diamondlight]

That is a tough topic.
I had a brother with a rare form of Leukemia that no one has ever survived. While he fought valiantly in the end the hell he went through did not seem worth the extra few weeks he had.
Just my view- if I can be resuscitated and helped them go for it- if I am going to be permanently hooked to a machine and/or no chance of recovery I would much rather be in Jesus arms.

It is a toughie, i agree. One that i've been thinking about lately though as i have friend in a tricky situation with her family member, similar to your brother.

I have another person at church who says that we should not be resuscitated at all as it is playing God. Once a person dies, they die.

I think i am with you on this. If my quality of life can be pretty good after, then go for it and bump start me. However, if nothing is really going to get better for me, then let me go.

 

[Robin MacAoidh]

DNR

Ok So Di,

The IF in the previous posts must be predetermined by the one opting for the DNR to avoid forcing another to decide if quality of life issues are at stake. That assessment is not always apparent. Usually when a person is asked there is an ongoing issue in place. I see it as the responsible thing to do because it avoids placing that 'God' role on a relative or friend.

Having lived through 7 family deaths related to terminal illness I can assure you it is the best thing, to let them go when God takes them.

 

[Diamondlight]

Ok So Di,

The IF in the previous posts must be predetermined by the one opting for the DNR to avoid forcing another to decide if quality of life issues are at stake. That assessment is not always apparent. Usually when a person is asked there is an ongoing issue in place. I see it as the responsible thing to do because it avoids placing that 'God' role on a relative or friend.

Having lived through 7 family deaths related to terminal illness I can assure you it is the best thing, to let them go when God takes them.

Yes. Excellent point Robin!

However, like organ donation (another great topic), one would have to decide prior to becoming unwell and let their extended family know of their wishes because, surely when someone is that unwell, they can't decide anything much at that point.

I suppose though, the family can revoke the decision made can they? I have no idea.

 

[farout]

diamondlight: This topic is very important because we are all going to die. Unless we have a Living Will and told other family members, or close friend, a Pastor or filed a copy of our living will with a hospital our end of life wishes just might not happen.
Even with a Living Will some family member could still challenge you wishes, by saying Mom or Dad changed their mind. Then it becomes up to the medical person in charge, or if the person is still breathing and other signs of little life. Sometimes it can even go to court. The Living Will allows you to change your mind if you want to, as long as you do it.
I believe that as long as there is reasonable expectations that you will be able to communicate, and be alert enough know what you are responding to, that is about the minimun life I would want.
So much depends how we got in the condition we are in. Perhaps some may not know that some Doctors, when a patient reaches a point that tube feeding and water is all that are keeping basic life functions going, can withdraw the tube's which is morbid and cruel. Or to increase Morphine to the point the patient slowly passes on.
The practice of medicine has lots of situation ethics. The Hospitals are carefully watching the bill get larger, and Insurance has a very strict limit on what the cover, and the length of stay allowed.
On top of all this, every family has someone who either has had what this patient has, or someone in the family works in the medical field and knows just what to do.
I was a Minister and served as a Chaplin for a summer in a large hospital. Even Chaplinsare involved at times. When death is near most generally the family wants prayer, ans sometimes as what God wants them to do. Sometimes people diredt their anger at the minister because God did not heal the person.
The whole field of living Wills and death and dying are a vital part of everyones best interest to attend to as much as possible while we are able to think exactally what we want and expect.