Today's pick is a Top Five hit from 1977 by quintessential American singer/songwriter Paul Simon. Dedicated to the patient with no quality of life, made a DNR, but kept alive by his family probably out of guilt, long past the time they should have just let go, told him they loved him, and whispered into his ear "Walk towards the light...". There's nothing less fun than watching your patient's blood pressure slide down and circle the drain, without quite bottoming out, and then the family panics, and decides at the last minute they want you to do everything short of actual CPR. For some reason, couldn't get this song out of my head all night.
It is amazing to me that so many people do not have their end of life wishes known and made clear to family that they mean it.
ReplyDeleteOr that so many have no will or even wish to deal with the reality of death and have not updated any documents though changes in location or family have happened.
You see it every day day when everything is fine one day and the next day they drag you out your car wreck. Life changes in a second.
Sir, you have the constitution of an I-beam. I would not last half an hour doing what you do if for no other reason than I would be raging against the stupid family. Then of course being discharged for cause.
ReplyDeleteWow. Now me? I've told The Mrs. I want to inconvenience people as much as possible when I pass on.
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