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Title XLIV 765.202
"Advance directive"
means a witnessed written document or oral statement in which
instructions are given by a principal or in which the
principal's desires are expressed concerning any aspect of the
principal's health care, and includes, but is not limited to,
the designation of a health care surrogate...."
It is most stressful to be hospitalized and be bombarded by
Physicians, Nurses, Case Managers, and Administrators of
every description.
Every family at this time needs a "son the doctor"
to explain things in a common sense manner to the patient and
family-a true "family member" taking the patient's
side in all matters.
Everyone, needs a champion who will take every opportunity to
help the family and patient understand how the diagnosis has
been made. Then we need to ask the questions that will help us
to assess whether all the options for care have been
presented to the patient, and are a "consensus"
recommendation, having been arrived at by a multi-specialty "team
approach" where appropriate.
Case Managers descend on the elderly informing them that they
are "running out of (Medicare) days," and that
once "denied by the PRO they will have to leave the
Hospital, go on Medicaid, or pay the bill out of their pockets.
Does your mother have to hear that?
Worst of all are the end-of-life decisions which are foisted
on a family when they are ill-prepared to make an intelligent,
unemotional decision. The young RN at the ICU bedside, a
hospital employee, under pressure to obtain resolution in what
appears to be an irresolvable and increasingly expensive proposition for the
Hospital, advises that the "next life is
better."
HOW DOES SHE KNOW? IS SHE OF THE SAME RELIGION? WHAT DOES SHE
BELIEVE? WHO IS SHE TO COME SO QUICKLY TO GIVE US THAT ADVICE?
Dr. Frederick Schechter
is a Board Certified Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon, caring
for the critically ill for over 30 years, who will be your
Healthcare Surrogate. Your patient advocate.
A legal document is prepared to allow you and
your loved ones to delegate specific responsibilities to
Dr. Schechter to make or to help make these decisions, and to
guide you and your family and loved ones through the Medical
Care Gauntlet.
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