Pamela Dombrowski-Wilson offers the following royalty-free article for you to publish online or in print. Feel free to use this article in your newsletter, website, ezine, blog, or forum. ----------- PUBLICATION GUIDELINES - You have permission to publish this article for free providing the "About the Author" box is included in its entirety. - Do not post/reprint this article in any site or publication that contains hate, violence, porn, warez, or supports illegal activity. - Do not use this article in violation of the US CAN-SPAM Act. If sent by email, this article must be delivered to opt-in subscribers only. - If you publish this article in a format that supports linking, please ensure that all URLs and email addresses are active links. - Please send a copy of the publication, or an email indicating the URL to [email protected] - Article Marketer (www.ArticleMarketer.com) has distributed this article on behalf of the author. Article Marketer does not own this article, please respect the author's copyright and publication guidelines. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use this article. ----------- Article Title: Death By Health Care Rationing Author: Pamela Dombrowski-Wilson Category: Health, Current Affairs, Elder Care Word Count: 476 Keywords: end of life, health care directive, palliative care, hospice care, health care reform Author's Email Address: [email protected] Article Source: http://www.articlemarketer.com ------------------ ARTICLE START ------------------
Some European nations place a financial value on a single year of life. If an individual's health care exceeds this amount, health care treatment is denied. Do we, as Americans, really want the government deciding whether we live or die? It is time to take matters into our own hands by learning about advanced directives, palliative and hospice care. Do not allow proposed health care rationing decide your end of life plans, make your own plans by completing an advanced directive, a document outlining actions to be taken for an individual related to medical care in the event the person is unable to make their own health care decisions. Only about thirty percent of individuals have a living will. The other seventy percent may experience undesirable end of life care that includes ventilation, mechanical feeding and other invasive care to extend end of life without providing quality of life. If you do not want to experience a death with others making decisions for you, complete your advanced directives now. Many individuals believe family members are able to make end of life decisions and are surprised to learn that family members cannot make these decisions without the presence of a legal document called a living will. Without a medical power of attorney no one can make healthcare decisions for you in the event that you become unconscious or unable to make decisions. Without a living will you may be kept alive on life support indefinitely and may receive life sustaining medical treatment that you would not wish. What is a living will or advanced directive? A document that provides direction for specific procedures, for example administration of artificial nutrition, blood transfusions, dialysis and other treatments of prolonged maintenance that the individual does or does not wish to occur to extend his or her life. What is a durable medical power of attorney? A document that allows an individual to appoint another individual, often a family member, to inquire about health care and to make health care decisions in the event the person making the designation is unable to make their wishes known. What are the 5 wishes? A document providing questions and guidance to allow an individual to thoroughly outline medical and related wishes regarding end of life wishes. What is palliative care and hospice care? This is pain management and end of life care that your physician will not likely discuss with you. The goal of most physicians and the medical profession is to preserve life, in some cases by offering chemotherapy, radiation and experimental medical treatments that offer little quality of life but financially feed the system and the pockets of the medical providers. By self advocating and learning about palliative and hospice care you control your own pain management and end of life care. Pamela D. Wilson, The Care Navigator, provides consulting, planning and education for families and individuals experiencing transitions in health care. Visit http://www.thecarenavigator.com for information or call 303-810-1816. Receive free education and tips at http://www.thecarenavigatorblog.com ------------------ ARTICLE END ------------------ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
