Respecting people’s choices
July 20th, 2011 → 12:12 pm @ Shanti
Respecting People’s Choices.
I went to a meeting the other day and we had lunch together with a number of elderly people. At the meeting we had a guest speaker, talking about our rights, when it comes to choices made by ourselves, as to how we would like to be treated in case of an accident, when the possibility arises that we may get dementia, permanently brain-damaged, loosing our faculties to think for ourselves and to speak to others, how we feel and how we would like to be treated.
You can imagine how wide this field is and what could happen, not only to older folk, but to you younger ones as well.
We have seen many film clips of young people, who have met with an accident, be it in sport or on the road or at work and who are now in a wheelchair, completely depending on others, 24/7, for all their needs.
Would you like to live like that? Would you rather not be here? It is so difficult to describe the feeling of others, but the only way we can imagine this situation, is to put ourselves there.
That is difficult enough as it is, but we should try and imagine this situation.
Talk to your doctor and ask him what he/she says about this.
There is : An Advanced Care Planning Program for all Australians in force for you to have a look at and if you wish to eliminate your family’s involvement at the time you could become dependent on them, discuss the situation with them also. Tell them what you want, when things become difficult and see what their reaction is. Nobody wants anybody to die or not to be here any more, but you as the person involved, should have the right to decide,what sort of quality of life you want.
I have had my form filled in for quite a few years and talked to my children beforehand. As they all agreed, that it must be MY choice.
When I was a young man and about to be engaged, my partner and I went to a solicitor (layer) and discussed a number of things, young marrieds should know about. He brought up the subject of a will. When he asked if I had a will, I replied, quite firmly: NO, because as a young man, I did not think a will was terribly important. You make a will when you are about to die, don’t you? He straightened us out quite quickly and said:”The signing of a will is not going to kill you”. This is something we all have to learn to understand, that even if you own very little, but enough to make a difference to the family and you die, the value of that property is no longer your families’, but becomes part of the state. So many people don’t think it necessary to have a will, but it really is, the same as this form above,which we all should have, disregarding our age.
Strange thing to talk about, isn’t it, but I feel I should bring it up.
Think about it!
My original form is with `my executor`, who also has my will, Other copies are with my children, of which one is the `second agent`, in case the executor cannot be reached, at the time of my misfortune.
You can get much more information by contacting: www.respectingpatientchoices.org.au
Your doctor should have all the relevant information at his/her disposal anyway.
Shanti.
