A nightmare that doctors overwhelmingly choose to avoid when they die themselves

[ColesCountyDem]

115. My father was a physician for over 50 years....

Over the course of 53 years as a small town GP/FP, Dad had seen death in virtually all of its forms. As a family, we occasionally had frank discussions regarding end-of-life care in all of its various and sundry forms. When Dad was diagnosed with Stage 1 tonsilar carcinoma, he opted for radiation and went into a three year-long remission; the only side effect of his radiation therapy was some change in the taste of certain sour or bitter foods, something he deemed 'acceptable'.

When the carcinoma returned, he was faced with three treatment options: 1.) radical surgery (removal of his larynx, esophagus and insertion of a feeding tube and creation of a permanent stoma for breathing, 2.) a combination of radiation and aggressive chemotherapy or 3.) palliative care. Dad opted for #3.) . As the holder of his health-care power-of-attorney, his instructions to me were as simple as they were direct: "Keep me warm, dry, clean, comfortable and hydrated"; with the help of hospice, I was able to do exactly as he wished, allowing him to die a comfortable, peaceful and lucid death in his own bed, surrounded by Mom, my nephew, myself and his beloved Boxer, 'Andrew'.

Three years later, Mom was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer; her wishes were the same as Dad's, and I honored them just as I had his.

One caveat Dad always added to his wishes: when faced with a catastrophic, critical illness or injury, if there was a medically-reasonable chance that aggressive medical intervention could return him to a sentient, enjoyable life, even if it was diminished in terms of mobility, e.g., then by all means I/we should 'pull out all the stops'; not every catastrophic illness is terminal or results in a bad 'quality of life' if one survives it.

I'll hush now, but thanks for listening to my two cents-worth.