12:15pm ET | Dr. Zach

GUEST – Dr. Zach, GFB house doctor

TOPIC – Right to die – euthanasia, and advance directives such as living wills.

INFO –  Advance Directives:  Medical care has made remarkable progress in the past generation.  We are now able to diagnose earlier and treat more effectively many life-threatening illnesses.  However, as a result of these advances, sometimes the care of people when they are dying can be unnecessarily prolonged, painful, expensive, and emotionally burdensome.  Each adult has the right to decide which interventions they want to extend their life.  Sometimes, due to illness or incapacity, we are unable to make or express our decisions regarding which interventions  we want.  An advance directive is a set of written instructions that give instructions for which actions should be taken for one if they are no longer able to make or express their medical decisions.  We will discuss advance directives, resuscitation when someone’s heart or breathing stops, and palliative and end of life care.