In an editorial published last week in the Indianapolis Star, Dr. Paul Helft of the I.U. School of Medicine discusses the crucial need for patients facing terminal conditions to discuss with their families and physicians their wishes for end-of-life care. This topic has gotten increased attention lately as Congress and the nation have debated health care reform legislation. Unfortunately, those opposing reform have shifted the discussion to unfounded accusations of "death panels" or forced euthanasia of the elderly and infirm.
Such talk trivializes the importance of making thoughtful end-of-life decisions. Options such as living wills, health care representative declarations and do-not-recusitate orders are important legal tools for making such decisions. A new Indiana law also allows individuals to take control of their funeral and burial arrangements, thereby avoiding family disputes, by signing an advance funeral directive.
Everyone wants to have a good life, but few ever think about having a good death. As a society, we need to take a more mature and measured approach to end-of-life care. While this topic may be scary or uncomfortable for some, taking the time to think these things over and letting one's family, physician and legal representatives know one's wishes in advance is an important step towards easing the trauma of life's passing for all concerned.
(My thanks to Dr. E.J. Last of Methodist Hospital for bringing Dr. Helft's article to my attention.)
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